Massachusetts Men Indicted on Charges of COVID-19 Unemployment and Loan Fraud in Boston Federal Court; Upper Valley Towns Spent COVID Relief Funds in Myriad Ways, and other C-Virus related stories
Massachusetts Men Indicted on Charges of COVID-19 Unemployment and Loan Fraud in Boston Federal Court:
Two Massachusetts men find themselves on the wrong side of the law, facing serious charges for their alleged involvement in a COVID-19 unemployment and loan fraud scheme. 25-year-old Dominik Manigo of Weymouth and 28-year-old Nelson Roche Diaz of Brockton were indicted on counts of wire fraud conspiracy and each on one count of wire fraud after a federal grand jury’s decision. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the pair made their initial federal court appearance in Boston this past Monday.
Allegedly, back in May 2020, these two individuals submitted fraudulent claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance through the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance portal. The indictment details that Manigo and Roche also submitted bogus letters claiming the pandemic had affected their employment at a restaurant in Boston, a narrative crafted to siphon funds under the guise of the economic hardship. The deception paid off, at least temporarily, as they each received over $43,000 in PUA and related funds.
If convicted of the charges, which includes wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy, Manigo and Roche could be looking at up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and fines that could swell up to $250,000. It’s important to emphasize that these sentences would be determined by a federal district court judge, taking into account U.S. Sentencing Guidelines alongside other statutory considerations. —>READ MORE HERE
Upper Valley towns spent COVID relief funds in myriad ways:
Enfield’s police department has a new cruiser, Hartford installed a lactation pod for nursing mothers in the town offices, and in Orford, 90% of the population will for the first time have access to reliable, high-speed broadband.
From fire trucks and skid steers to school bleachers and road signs, towns and villages throughout the Upper Valley have reaped the benefits of the one-time influx of COVID-19 related federal funds that landed in their coffers in the fall of 2021.
The money was part of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, passed by Congress. Its purpose was to help towns and cities nationwide respond to and recover from the pandemic.
The deadline for “obligating,” or deciding what to do with those funds was Dec. 31, 2024, making possible a broad look at how the 48 towns in the Valley News’ coverage area decided to use their share of the funding.
For many towns, the ARPA money has been a game-changer.
Relying heavily on property taxes for revenue, towns routinely struggle to balance rising operational costs while keeping tax rates bearable for residents. For smaller towns especially, striking that balance often means deferring maintenance on buildings, vehicles and equipment, and funding only what is absolutely necessary.
“ARPA changed this,” Katie Buckley, who directs municipal operations support for the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, said recently.
“It has provided most municipalities with some much-needed breathing room,” she said.—>READ MORE HERE
Follow links below to relevant/related stories and resources:
Nightlife boss’s firm must return £400k Covid grant
US hospital data show high rates of antibiotic prescribing for COVID, other viruses throughout pandemic
USA TODAY: Coronavirus Updates
YAHOO NEWS: Coronavirus Live Updates
NEW YORK POST: Coronavirus The Latest
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