Latest news with #COVID-19EconomicInjuryDisasterLoans
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Clifton lawyer sentenced to 21 months for COVID-19 relief fraud
A Clifton lawyer was sentenced to nearly two years in prison for fraudulently receiving over $300,000 in COVID-19 relief funds, according to a June 9 release from the U.S Attorney for the District of New Jersey. Morton Chirnomas, 62, was charged with wire fraud in February of 2023 and pleaded guilty to the charge in November of the same year. The attorney allegedly attained $150,000 through a COVID-19 relief program known as "COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans." The money was received between May and September of 2020. Chirnomas was additionally accused of obtaining $200,000 in unemployment insurance benefits using the names and identities of other people without their permission. State news: Bill targets NJ's worst nursing homes with new penalties U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced Chirnomas will serve 21 months in prison with three years' supervised release. The Passaic County attorney had his law license suspended in June of 2023, according to court documents. This article originally appeared on Clifton NJ lawyer sentenced over COVID-19 relief fraud
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Former Cherry Hills Village resident, hemp business owner facing federal charges
DENVER (KDVR) — A former resident of Cherry Hills Village has been charged with one count of wire fraud and money laundering in connection with millions of dollars that federal officials say were bilked from disaster funds. Joseph Ronald Trenkle, 54, currently of Dorado, Puerto Rico, is accused of applying for and receiving $1.85 million in COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the Small Business Administration and another almost $3 million in Paycheck Protection Program funds from a Small Business Administration-approved lender. Billions in pandemic fraud: DOJ looking to recover every penny of COVID relief fraud According to Colorado Secretary of State business records, Trenkle is the owner of All American Hemp Co., a commercial operation 'specializing in seed production and replication' of marijuana plants. The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado said the funds were received between April 30, 2020, and Feb. 25, 2022, after Trenkle first received a disaster loan in March 2020. The prosecutors say Trenkle made two requests to increase the amount of the loan, as well as falsely represented items in the request. The prosecutors further allege that Trenkle submitted two fraudulent loan applications and submitted fraudulent applications to be forgiven on each of the loans. Trenkle appeared in court on May 22 in Denver. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
