Chula Vista Councilwoman, Brother Face Fraud Charges Over COVID Relief Loan; St. Louis Man Sentenced for Aiding $666K in Pandemic Fraud, and other C-Virus related stories
Chula Vista councilwoman, brother face fraud charges over COVID relief loan:
Chula Vista City Councilwoman Andrea Cardenas and her brother, Jesus Cardenas, face several felony charges after authorities said they used over $175,000 in COVID relief money for personal use.
In the six-page complaint filed Wednesday, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office detailed charges against the siblings, which include grand theft, money laundering, conspiracy to defraud, and failure to file a tax return.
The brother and sister are accused of obtaining COVID relief aid, more commonly known as Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, for $176,227 and using the funds for personal expenses.
Andrea, 31, is accused of using a portion of that money for her campaign to run for the Chula Vista City Council seat. Forty-year-old Jesus is accused of using his political consulting business, Grassroots Resources, to obtain the loan.
The complaint states that Jesus misrepresented the number of Grassroots Resources employees, misrepresented what type of business it was, and said the PPP funds would go towards employee retention and payroll, when the funds were actually used for personal expenses.
Andrea allegedly submitted the business license and payroll calculation data for another company, marijuana dispensary Harbor Collective, and claimed it was information for Grassroots Resources, according to the complaint. —>READ MORE HERE
St. Louis man sentenced for aiding $666K in pandemic fraud:
A St. Louis man who helped at least 20 people file fraudulent pandemic loan applications that reaped $666,656 will spend several years behind bars.
A federal judge sentenced Jacob Eldridge, 45, to four years and nine months in prison on Tuesday in connection with the crimes, ranging from Jan. 1, 2021 to Jan. 13, 2022.
Investigators say Eldridge solicited at least 20 friends and acquaintances to file fraudulent applications for PPP loans. These loans were intended to help struggling business owners and their employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to his indictment, Eldridge often drafted and submitted fraudulent applications on behalf of those people. On at least 10 applications, Eldridge reported false or substantially inflated gross annual income figures to max out the loans. He also submitted bogus IRS forms on behalf of the businesses. —>READ MORE HERE
Follow links below to relevant/related stories and resources:
Dearborn Heights man pleads guilty to fraud, money laundering in COVID-19 loan scheme
Ex-Canton residents sentenced to prison for pandemic and romance scams
USA TODAY: Coronavirus Updates
YAHOO NEWS: Coronavirus Live Updates
NEW YORK POST: Coronavirus The Latest
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