Mar 24, 2022 | COVID-19 Related Law, Fraud Investigations
On March 18, 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a guilty plea by Mr. Gurgen Israyelyan for the theft of government property associated with COVID-19 relief funds. Mr. Israyelyan owned or controlled several entities, including Saint Christopher Hospice,...
Apr 16, 2024 | White Collar Crime
On April 10, the Department of Justice announced that a Louisiana woman, Melissa J. Watson of Slidell, pleaded guilty to theft of public money in connection with an alleged scheme to misappropriate over $780,000 from the Provider Relief Fund (PRF), a COVID-19 relief...
Mar 12, 2024 | COVID-19 Related Law, PPP Investigations, White Collar Crime
Since 2020, Chilivis Grubman attorneys have closely monitored and documented indictments, guilty verdicts, and prison sentences tied to COVID-19 relief programs. Enforcement of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act has spanned individuals and...
Aug 2, 2023 | White Collar Crime
On July 31, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Leon Haynes, a tax preparer from Teaneck, New Jersey, was arrested for fraudulently seeking over $124,000,000 from the IRS by filing over 1,000 tax returns falsely claiming COVID-19-related employment tax...
Jun 26, 2023 | White Collar Crime
In January 2023, Dr. Francis F. Joseph was convicted of theft in connection with healthcare and wire fraud for misappropriating nearly $250,000 from COVID-19 relief programs. The DOJ just announced that Dr. Joseph has been sentenced to 2.5 years in federal prison....