Category: COVID-19 relief

Florida Man Accused of Obtaining $2.1 Million in COVID-19 Relief Loans Fraudulent Scheme

A Florida man has been charged with fraudulently obtaining $2.1 million in COVID-19 relief loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the Department of Justice announced on Dec. 29.  Valesky Barosy, 27, of Ft. Lauderdale appeared in federal magistrate court last week. Prosecutors claim that he submitted fraudulent loan applications on behalf of himself and his accomplices seeking more…


SBA Improperly Paid $4.5 Billion on ‘Flawed’ COVID-19 Grant Claims: Watchdog

A Small Business Administration (SBA) emergency relief program, implemented during the onset of the pandemic, improperly paid nearly $4.5 billion to self-employed people, some of whom erroneously claimed they had additional workers. In a report (pdf) released on Thursday, the internal watchdog at the federal agency responsible for managing COVID-19 emergency loans and grants to…


Federal Economic Support Package on the Way for COVID-19 Stricken New South Wales

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced the federal government will provide an economic support package for New South Wales as it stares down the reality of long term COVID-19 restrictions. Announcing the full details for financial assistance to households and businesses on July 13, Morrison said that although the Commonwealth and the state’s had originally agreed…


Fraudsters Use COVID-19 Relief Funds to Buy Luxury Homes, Jewelry

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Sentencing is scheduled Sept. 13 for four Los Angeles residents found guilty of scheming to submit fraudulent loan applications under which they and their co-defendants obtained more than $18 million in COVID-19 relief funds used to put down-payments on luxury homes in Tarzana, Glendale and Palm Desert and purchase jewelry and other high-end…


10 Republican Senators Publish Joint Statement in Response to Biden’s Comments on Bipartisan Cooperation

Ten Republican senators wrote a statement on Wednesday in response to President Joe Biden’s comments on a bipartisan COVID-19 relief proposal that the senators previously submitted. When Biden was asked on Wednesday about Republican support for the $2.3 trillion infrastructure proposal, he referenced the CCP virus relief bill, and said that the Republican group wasn’t…


10 Republican Senators Respond to Biden’s Comments on Bipartisan Cooperation

Ten Republican senators wrote a statement on Wednesday in response to President Joe Biden’s comments on a bipartisan COVID-19 relief proposal that the senators previously submitted. When Biden was asked on Wednesday about Republican support for the $2.3 trillion infrastructure proposal, he referenced the CCP virus relief bill, and said that the Republican group wasn’t…


Tories, NDP Say More Support Needed for Sectors Hit Hard by Pandemic

OTTAWA—Opposition parties are pushing the federal Liberals for targeted COVID-19 relief for some badly hit sectors. The Conservatives advanced a motion Tuesday calling on the Liberals to implement supports for the hospitality, tourism and charity sectors decimated by the pandemic. “We cannot allow the pandemic to permanently kill these jobs,” Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole said….


Senate Agrees to $300 Weekly Jobless Aid Through End of August in COVID-19 Relief Bill

The Senate in the early hours of Saturday voted to reduce the weekly unemployment benefit from $400 to $300 per week for recipients through the end of August in the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill. The amendment from Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) was agreed to by a vote of 50-49 after hours of negotiations among Democrats….


Senate Agrees to $300 Weekly Jobless Aid in COVID-19 Relief Bill

The Senate in the early hours of Saturday voted to reduce the weekly unemployment benefit from $400 to $300 per week for recipients through Sept. 6 in the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill. The amendment from Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) was agreed to by a vote of 50-49 after hours of negotiations among Democrats. Under the…


Man Pleads Guilty to Lying to Get $1.2 Million COVID-19 Relief Loans

A 46-year-old Wisconsin man pleaded guilty on Tuesday for fraudulently obtaining more than $1.2 million in COVID-19 relief loans, the Justice Department said in a press release. Thomas Smith admitted to lying about payroll expenses for eight different companies in order to receive more than $1.2 million of the relief, his guilty plea said, according…