Seven Las Vegas men have been taken into custody in connection with fraudulent COVID-19 relief loan applications, according to a Friday news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada.
Officials reported that the men received a total of $205,639 in fraudulent loan proceeds.
Court documents allege that the men presented fraudulent information and paperwork while applying for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program loans. The men were identified as follows:
- Elias Santino Acereto
- Sheyland Juakeen Barnett
- James Sean Freeman II
- Yves Garry Harrison-Pierre
- Tyrone Tatrice Johnson
- Marcus Dushun McMillian-Bonner
- Nathan Jeffry Scott
According to authorities, each of the men received the loans fraudulently with the intent to enrich themselves.
The arrests were made on Thursday by the FBI Las Vegas Field Office, FBI Phoenix Division, FBI Houston Division, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and North Las Vegas Police Department. Barnett, Freeman, Johnson, and Scott were arrested in Las Vegas. Acereto and Harrison-Pierre were captured in Phoenix, while McMillian-Bonner was apprehended in Richmond, Texas.
Freeman was charged with two counts of wire fraud. All others were charged with one count of wire fraud.
The maximum statutory penalty is 20 years in jail for each count.
The FBI Las Vegas Field Office, SBA-OIG, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and North Las Vegas Police Department all investigated these cases. The FBI Phoenix Division and FBI Houston Division assisted with the arrests. Kimberly Frayn, an assistant US attorney, is prosecuting these cases.
“Exploiting federal programs intended to support small businesses is unacceptable,” said Las Vegas FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto.
“The defendants manipulated the Covid-19 pandemic to steal from taxpayers for personal gain, and they must be held completely accountable. ” The FBI and our partners remain committed to identifying and investigating those who attempt to defraud federal programs designed to assist businesses in need of operational support,” Delzotto stated.
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