ICE-Led PPP Fraud Crackdown Concludes: 160+ Defendants, $245 Million in Intended Losses
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) announced in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on October 26 that a two-month enforcement surge against Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) fraud has concluded, involving more than 160 criminal defendants nationwide and approximately $245 million in intended losses to taxpayers.
The surge ran from June 12 to September 1 with 44 U.S. attorney’s offices and 20 federal and state investigative agencies, targeting fraud in the Small Business Administration’s PPP. Eighty defendants were newly charged; the actions produced 12 indictments and five guilty pleas.
The effort was led by the Department of Justice National Fraud Enforcement Division and the SBA Office of Inspector General, as part of President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance.“Pandemic relief programs were created to support struggling businesses, not to enrich criminals,” said Matthew Scarpino, HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 国土安全部总部大楼。图片：美国国土安全部，公共领域（Wikimedia Commons）。
