Three Sentenced for COVID-19 Relief Fraud, Totaling $7.1M
A trio of individuals, Raymond Rahbar, Ryan Macaulay, and Carl Pierre, have faced justice for their roles in a multimillion-dollar COVID-19 relief fraud scheme. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Alexandria with the FBI leading the investigation.
The defendants exploited the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), intended to aid small businesses during the pandemic. They submitted false loan applications, inflating employee numbers and using fabricated documents to secure funds.
Raymond Rahbar, the mastermind, attempted to obtain over $4 million, successfully securing at least $3.1 million. He was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison. Ryan Macaulay, involved in the scheme, received a two-year sentence. Carl Pierre, who helped orchestrate a scam involving a non-existent fitness center, was sentenced to one day in prison.
In a separate case, a 55-year-old man from the Erzgebirge region was sentenced by the Chemnitz Regional Court for commercial fraud involving around 80,000 euros. The exact length of his sentence was not specified.
The PPP fraud scheme has resulted in significant prison time for the main perpetrators. The U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI have sent a strong message that such crimes will not be tolerated. The total amount defrauded and the sentences received highlight the severity of the offenses.
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