Carpenters Recruit Apprentices

 

The Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee for the New York City District Council of Carpenters will conduct a recruitment from March 13, 2024 through February 12, 2025 for 25 carpenter apprentices, the New York State Department of Labor announced today.

Applicants must attend an in-person information session at the New York City District Council of Carpenters Training Center (NYCDCC Training Center), 395 Hudson Street (Clarkson Street entrance) 2nd floor, New York, New York 10014. Information sessions will be held on the second Wednesday of each month from 9 AM-10 AM for all trades during the recruitment period excluding the months of December and January. There will be no admittance after 9 AM. Off-site information sessions and virtual information sessions may be added if necessary. In order to receive an application, applicants must provide government-issued picture identification.

Please note, spaces are limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Applicants must sign in during the in-person information session. Failure to sign in will disqualify the individual from further consideration. At the conclusion of the information session, applicants will receive a passcode, which will allow them to access the application online. Applications will be available online during the recruitment period at www.nyccarpenterstrainingcenter.org. Completed applications must be submitted and received through the website portal (www.nyccarpenterstrainingcenter.org) within 60 days from the date of the information session. Failure to comply will disqualify the individual from further consideration.

Applications that meet all requirements will be scheduled for an interview at a future date. Applicants will only be allowed one interview and those that do not arrive on time to their scheduled interview will be disqualified from further consideration. Applicants will be provided with an instruction sheet and a list of original documents that will be required if they are accepted into the program.

The Committee requires that applicants:

• Must be at least 17 years old at the time of application.
• Must have a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma (such as TASC or GED). Proof will be required after selection and prior to enrollment in apprenticeship.
• Must be physically able to perform the work of the trade without posing a direct threat to the safety of themselves or others.
• Must be physically able to perform the work of a Carpenter which may include:
• Working on scaffolds and in confined spaces.
• Working under conditions of inclement weather, such as rain, snow, cold, hear and direct sunlight,
• Performing constant repetitive motions.
• Climbing and working from heights.
• Lifting items weighing a minimum of 50 pounds.
• Standing and stooping for prolonged periods of time.
• Must pass a substance abuse screening, at the expense of the sponsor, within 48 hours of selection and prior to enrollment in apprenticeship, at a designated collection site designated by the JATC. Applicants that do not pass the substance abuse screening will be notified and disqualified from further consideration.
• Must agree to and sign Apprentice drug testing policy which provides for pre-enrollment testing, random testing, for-cause testing and post-accident testing.
• Must agree to sign Apprentice handbook which is subject to change anytime.
• Must travel to off-site training and agree to be financially responsible for certain costs related to such training in the event that the apprentice cancels, fails to show up or fails to successfully complete the program.
• Must be able to read, hear and understand verbal instructions and warnings in English.
• Must provide proof (detailed examples) of any trade-related experience, certification, or education, after selection and prior to enrollment in apprenticeship.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or have the legal right to work in the United States. Proof will be required after selection and prior to enrollment in apprenticeship.
• Must have reliable means of transportation to and from various job sites and classes at the approved school.
• Must provide DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, if applicable, after selection and prior to enrollment in apprenticeship.

For further information, applicants should contact New York City District Council of Carpenters at (212) 727-2224. Additional job search assistance can be obtained at your local New York State Department of Labor Career Center (see: dol.ny.gov/career-centers)

Apprentice programs registered with the Department of Labor must meet standards established by the Commissioner. Under state law, sponsors of programs cannot discriminate against applicants because of race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, or marital status. Women and minorities are encouraged to submit applications for apprenticeship programs. Sponsors of programs are required to adopt affirmative action plans for the recruitment of women and minorities.

Attorney General James and NYSED Commissioner Rosa Secure $750,000 from College Board for Violating Students’ Privacy

New York Attorney General Letitia James and New York State Education Department (NYSED) Commissioner Betty A. Rosa announced a $750,000 settlement with College Board for violating students’ privacy and unlawfully selling their personal data. For years, College Board collected students’ personal information when they took the PSAT, SAT, and AP exams in school, and then licensed this data to colleges, scholarship programs, and other customers who used it to solicit students to participate in their programs. In 2019 alone, College Board improperly licensed the information of more than 237,000 New York students who took their exams. In addition, College Board improperly sent promotional materials to students who signed up for College Board accounts in connection with exams or AP courses. As a result of today’s agreement, College Board must pay $750,000 in penalties and will be prohibited from monetizing New York students’ data that it acquires through its contracts with New York schools and school districts. 

“Students have more than enough to be stressed about when they take college entrance exams, and shouldn’t have to worry about their personal information being bought and sold,” said Attorney General James. “New York law requires organizations like College Board to protect the data they collect from students when they take their exams in school, not sell it to customers for a profit. I want to thank Commissioner Rosa for her work on this investigation to ensure we hold College Board accountable and protect New York students’ privacy.”   

“When the organizations we trust to provide meaningful services to our students exploit student information for profit, it violates privacy laws as well as the public trust,” said Commissioner Betty A. Rosa. “We will continue to ensure that every student’s information is appropriately utilized and protected. We are grateful to the Attorney General for her collaboration in protecting the interests of the students and families of New York.”

College Board is a New York-based non-profit institution that develops and administers standardized tests, primarily to high school students who take them as part of the college admissions process. It also develops other college readiness programs, such as AP courses, and has a contract with NYSED to subsidize AP exam fees for low-income students. In addition, College Board operates the Student Search Service (Search), in which it licenses data it collects from students — including their names, contact information, ethnicity, GPAs, and test scores — to customers like colleges and scholarship programs to use for recruiting students. 

Beginning in 2010, College Board contracted with New York schools and school districts to allow schools to offer the PSAT and SAT exams during the school day and to pay for the students’ exam fees. In the past five years, approximately 20 New York schools or school districts, including the New York City Department of Education, which operates more than 500 high schools, have entered into such contracts. Schools across New York have also consistently signed agreements with College Board to offer AP courses and exams.  

An investigation led by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) revealed that prior to June 2022, College Board solicited students to provide information, such as their GPA, anticipated course of study, interest in a religiously affiliated college and religious activities, and parents’ level of income, during the administration of PSAT, SAT, and AP exams, as well as when students signed up for a College Board online account. Although providing this data for participation in Search was optional, students were solicited to participate in the urgent context of an important exam and were encouraged to sign up because it would connect them with scholarship and college opportunities. From 2018-2022, College Board licensed New York student data to over 1,000 institutions through Search and received significant revenue from data related to New York students who took PSAT, SAT, or AP exams during the school day.     

The investigation further found that College Board improperly used student data for its own marketing. Until fall 2022, College Board used student data collected in connection with PSAT and SAT exams administered during the school day to send marketing communications. In addition, until 2023, when New York students registered for the AP program, they were solicited to opt in to receiving College Board marketing materials. 

Under New York law, it is illegal to use student data obtained under a contract with a New York educational agency for commercial or marketing purposes. The investigation found College Board improperly used student data obtained in connection with PSAT and SAT exams administered during the school day and the AP program by licensing student data to Search clients and using student data to send its own marketing materials.  

Under the settlement announced today, College Board must pay $750,000 in penalties, disgorgement, and costs to the state. College Board is also prohibited from using New York student data it collects or receives in connection with a contract with a New York educational agency for any marketing or commercial purposes. This includes data obtained from administering PSAT, SAT, or AP exams during the school day. In addition, College Board cannot solicit students to participate in Search or similar programs during these exams. 

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli: State Pension Fund Valued at $259.9 Billion at End of Third Quarter

 

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced that the estimated value of the New York State Common Retirement Fund (Fund) was $259.9 billion at the end of the third quarter of state fiscal year 2023-24. For the three-month period ending Dec. 31, 2023, Fund investments returned an estimated 6.18%.

“The markets have seen an improvement over the past quarter, but some volatility remains,” DiNapoli said. “Economic opinions are mixed about the year ahead and uncertainty persists. Still, thanks to our prudent management and long-term strategy, our pensioners and members can remain confident that their pension benefits are safe.”

The Fund's value reflects retirement and death benefits of $4.2 billion paid out during the quarter. Its audited value was $248.5 billion as of March 31, 2023, the end of last state fiscal year.

As of Dec. 31, the Fund had 41.84% of its assets invested in publicly traded equities. The remaining Fund assets by allocation are invested in cash, bonds, and mortgages (22.62%), private equity (14.75%), real estate and real assets (13.30%) and credit, absolute return strategies, and opportunistic alternatives (7.49%).

The Fund’s long-term expected rate of return is 5.9%.

DiNapoli initiated quarterly performance reporting by the Fund in 2009 as part of his on-going efforts to increase accountability and transparency.

About the New York State Common Retirement Fund

The New York State Common Retirement Fund is one of the largest public pension funds in the United States. The Fund holds and invests the assets of the New York State and Local Retirement System on behalf of more than one million state and local government employees and retirees and their beneficiaries. It has consistently been ranked as one of the best managed and best funded plans in the nation.

CONSUMER ALERT: The New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection Alerts New Yorkers about Romance Scams

 

As Valentine’s Day Approaches, Learn How to Recognize and Prevent Romance Scams

Secretary Robert J. Rodriguez: “Don’t underestimate the lengths some scammers will go through to take advantage of your heart to try and steal your money. If you are exploring online dating, I encourage New Yorkers to follow the Division of Consumer Protection’s helpful tips to identify these common red flags.”

Follow the New York Department of State on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for “Tuesday’s Tips” – Practical Tips to Educate and Empower New York Consumers on a Variety of Topics 

For this week’s “Tuesday’s Tips,” the New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection (DCP) is warning New Yorkers about romance scams and is offering information and tools to help identify and outsmart scammers who prey on people’s emotions and trust. Romance scams occur when a criminal lies about their identity and uses romantic interest to manipulate or steal from the victim. Thieves use different variations of these scams to deceive unsuspecting daters.

“Valentine’s Day means love is in the air, and for many finding that special someone leads to online dating as an easy way to meet their potential match,” said NYS Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez. “But don’t underestimate the lengths some scammers will go through to take advantage of your heart to try and steal your money. If you are exploring online dating, I encourage New Yorkers to follow the Division of Consumer Protection’s helpful tips to identify these common red flags.”

The internet provides anonymity, allowing criminals unlimited time to troll for potential victims. Romance scams have the potential to affect everyone. Some groups are more frequently targeted, however, such as seniors-- and especially widows, widowers and recent divorcees.

Common Elements of a Romance:

• Fake online profiles: Scammers create the illusion of someone you would be attracted to and trust. They seek opportunities to meet someone online and create profiles on a wide range of online platforms including social media, dating sites, messaging apps and porn sites. They may find images online to use in their profile to lure unsuspecting victims.
• Unexpected contact: Scammers may make contact online and use a variety of methods to learn about their victims. They will do online research or scroll the information on your social media profile in order to tap into your interests and emotions, spark a conversation and build a relationship.
• Build Trust: Scammers are patient and may communicate for weeks or months until they’ve earned your trust.
• Unavailable to meet in person: Scammers may propose an in-person meeting, claiming they will travel to see you, but then claim a last-minute emergency preventing it from happening. Scammers will often say they are working outside of the country creating a convenient reason not to meet in person. Be suspicious of anyone who says they want to meet but then always makes excuses for why they can’t.
• Request Money: Scammers often start by requesting small amounts of money and paying it back quickly to build trust. Eventually, the scammers may request a large sum of money, usually as a loan, to be wired to them for things ranging from business investments, property, debts, illness and more. They may even ask for money for airfare so they can visit you. Once they receive the money, the scammer will often ask for more or create a new reason they need to borrow money. This will continue until the victim becomes suspicious, at which point the scammer will usually stop all contact and disappear.
• Fake Cryptocurrency Investment: The FBI has identified a trend in which criminals are increasingly pressuring victims to invest in cryptocurrency. The scam starts as an online relationship, but instead of asking for cash, the scammer convinces the victim to investment in cryptocurrency. To demonstrate the returns on investment, victims are directed to fake websites that trick victims into believing these investment opportunities are legitimate. Once the victim makes a purchase, they are denied the ability to cash out their investments and the scammer vanishes.
• Liability: Scammers may convert their victims into unwitting criminals by convincing them to launder and move fraudulent funds, which the victim may then be liable for both financially and potentially criminally.

Tips to Avoid Romance Scams:

• If someone you haven’t met in person asks you for money, assume it is a scam, even if they say they need it for an emergency or traumatic life event. Never give or loan money to someone that you have not met in person.

• Remember that wire transfers, prepaid cards, gift cards, and cryptocurrency are all equal to sending cash that you cannot get back. If someone asks for these types of payments, assume it is a scam.

• Do not give out personal information to someone online, including payment and banking information, especially if you have not met them before.
• Use trusted online dating sites, but still exercise caution. Beware of online interactions that quickly ask you to leave a dating service or social media site to communicate directly.
• Be cautious of people you meet online who say they are an American abroad or a deployed soldier.
• Schedule a live video-chat early in the relationship to ensure they are the person they are presenting in their profile.
• Research anyone in whom you have an interest. Ask questions. Look them up online. Verify details where you can.
• Do a reverse image search of the person’s profile picture. If it is linked to another name or details that don’t line up, it’s likely a scam.
• Familiarize yourself with privacy settings for all your online platforms and consider limiting who has access to your personal information, contact lists and location.
• Turn off or cover your web cameras when you’re not using them.
• Don’t keep it a secret. Talk to a friend or relative about online interactions.

About the New York State Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection

The New York State Division of Consumer Protection provides resources and education materials to consumers on product safety, as well as voluntary mediation services between consumers and businesses. The Consumer Assistance Helpline 1-800-697-1220 is available Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, excluding State Holidays, and consumer complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection.

Follow the New York Department of State on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and check in every Tuesday for more practical tips that educate and empower New York consumers on a variety of topics. Sign up to receive consumer alerts directly to your email or phone here.

For more consumer protection tips, follow the Division of Consumer Protection on Facebook and Twitter.

Former Puerto Rico Mayor Sentenced for Bribery Scheme

 

The former mayor of the municipality of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, was sentenced to five years and three months in prison for his involvement in a bribery scheme in which he received cash payments in exchange for awarding municipal contracts and expedited payment of invoices related to those contracts.   

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Ángel Pérez-Otero, 53, was involved in a bribery conspiracy in which, from approximately late 2019 through May 2021, he accepted thousands of dollars in cash bribes on a regular basis from the owner of a construction company. In exchange for those payments, Pérez-Otero agreed to obtain and retain government contracts for the company and ensured that the company’s invoices were promptly paid.

In March, a federal jury convicted Pérez-Otero of conspiracy, federal program bribery, and extortion.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph González of the FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI San Juan Field Office investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Nicholas Cannon of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section (PIN) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Myriam Fernández-González for the District of Puerto Rico prosecuted the case. PIN Trial Attorney Ryan R. Crosswell and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott H. Anderson for the District of Puerto Rico assisted in the investigation.  

This case is a part of the Justice Department’s ongoing efforts to combat public corruption by municipal officials in Puerto Rico. In addition to the above matter, PIN and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico have recently obtained convictions against other former public officials and contractors in the District of Puerto Rico for soliciting and accepting bribes related to municipal contracts. See United States v. Félix Delgado-Montalvo, 21-463 (RAM); United States v. Oscar Santamaria-Torres, 21-464 (RAM); United States v. Raymond Rodríguez, 21-465 (RAM); United States v. Mario Villegas-Vargas, 21-468 (FAB); United States v. Radamés Benítez-Cardona, 21-475 (PAD); United States v. Luis Arroyo-Chiques, 21-485 (SCC); United States v. Eduardo Cintron-Suarez, 22-151 (SCC); United States v. Javier Garcia-Perez, 22-185 (ADC); United States v. Reinaldo Vargas-Rodriguez, 22-186 (PAD); United States v. Ramon Conde-Melendez, 22-221 (PAD); United States v. Pedro Miranda-Marrero, 22-251 (RAM); United States v. Jose Cruz-Cruz, 22-276 (SCC); and United States Jose Bou-Santiago, 22-379 (ADC).

Governor Hochul Announces Special Election in 26th Congressional District

 

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that a special election to fill the vacancy in the 26th Congressional District created by the resignation of Brian Higgins will be held on Tuesday, April 30. Governor Hochul issued the proclamation on February 12 pursuant to the Public Officers Law.

“With Brian Higgins’ departure from Congress, a special election to ensure representation for the 26th District will be held in April,” Governor Hochul said. “From our days representing Western New York in Congress together to our partnership in the years since, I am grateful for Brian’s service to our State and our country. I wish him all the best as he embarks on a new chapter of service and look forward to working with his successor to improve the lives of New Yorkers.”

Russian-Canadian National Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Launder Money from Scheme to Send UAV and Missile Components to Russia in Violation of U.S. Sanctions

 

In federal court in Brooklyn, Kristina Puzyreva pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy for her role in a multimillion-dollar scheme to send components used in unnamed aerial vehicles (UAVs) and guided missile systems and other weapons to sanctioned entities in Russia.  The components shipped in violation of export control and sanctions laws were later found in Russian weapons platforms and signals intelligence equipment in Ukraine.  At sentencing, Puzyreva faces up to twenty years in prison.  Prosecution against the other defendants remains pending.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Erin Keegan, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Homeland Security Investigations New York (HSI), James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Matthew S. Axelrod, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement, U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement (BIS), announced the plea.

“As she admitted, the defendant was a key part of the plan, laundering proceeds from the scheme to evade sanctions and ship UAV and missile components to Russia that were later found on the battlefield in Ukraine,” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “This plea demonstrates that the Eastern District of New York will not allow criminals to endanger national security by supplying Russia with U.S.-sourced military technology.”

“Kristina Puzyreva and her co-defendants allegedly purchased and dispatched millions of dollars in U.S.-sourced electronics to support the Kremlin in its ongoing attacks of Ukraine. Her money laundering conspiracy was directly linked to 298 shipments of restricted technology, valued at $7 million, to the Russian battlefield,” said HSI New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan. “While today’s guilty plea remains a positive step toward justice, HSI New York will continue to relentlessly pursue those who seek to exploit U.S. export control laws for financial gain.”

“Following the money is a law enforcement imperative.  This defendant laundered money on behalf of several Brooklyn front companies to ship U.S.-origin electronics to sanctioned entities in Russia,” said Matthew S. Axelrod, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement.  “As today’s guilty plea makes clear, we are unyielding in our efforts to help prevent American electronics from being used in Russian missiles and drones that kill innocent civilians in Ukraine.”

"Kristina Puzyreva admitted she willingly played a key role in a global procurement scheme, which ultimately helped the government of Russia obtain sanctioned equipment for its war efforts. Puzyreva chose to turn a blind eye to the law to enrich herself, compromising the national security of the United States. This plea reminds anyone willing to help the Russian government evade sanctions that the FBI will pursue swift punishment in the criminal justice system," stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Smith. 

As alleged in the indictment and other court filings, the defendant laundered money as part of a sophisticated export control and sanctions evasion scheme involving SH Brothers Inc. (SH Brothers) and SN Electronics, Inc. (SN Electronics), two companies registered in Brooklyn, New York.  Using the SH Brothers and SN Electronics corporate entities, the defendant’s co-conspirators unlawfully sourced, purchased and shipped millions of dollars in dual-use electronics from U.S. manufacturers to end users, including sanctioned entities, in Russia.  The electronic components and integrated circuits shipped were later found in seized Russian weapons platforms and signals intelligence equipment in Ukraine, including in UAVs and guided missiles.  During the period charged in the indictment, SH Brothers made hundreds of shipments valued at over $7 million to Russia. 

Puzyreva and her husband, co-defendant Nikolay Goltsev, traveled on multiple occasions from Canada to meet with their co-defendant Salimdzhon Nasriddinov in Brooklyn.  During such trips, Puzyreva utilized numerous bank accounts to make financial transactions in furtherance of the scheme.  For example, Puzyreva is the signatory on two New York accounts, including one that lists Nasriddinov’s home address in Brooklyn (also the registered address of SH Brothers) as the address of record.  Records for these accounts reflect large, structured cash deposits in Brooklyn and Manhattan that correspond with trips that Puzyreva and Goltsev made to New York.  These deposits were then transferred to accounts held and used by Puzyreva and Goltsev in Canada.

The scheme involved millions of dollars in transactions and was lucrative for the defendants.  For example, in a text message exchange on or about January 13, 2023, Goltsev complained to Puzyreva that a co-conspirator “asked me to make 80 accounts . . . I am making accounts for 3 mln [i.e., million].  Fingers hurting already from the laptop.”  Puzyreva responded, “Lot of money?  We will get rich.”  Later, on or about January 20, 2023, Goltsev messaged Puzyreva, “Dasha (a co-conspirator) paid. 700k.”  Notably, financial records revealed wire transfers totaling approximately $700,000 into an SH Brothers account in or around January 2023 from a Hong Kong-based entity as part of an order for a sanctioned Russian entity.

The government seized $20,000 in cash from the New York hotel room in which the defendant was arrested.  In total, the government has seized approximately $1.68 million dollars in connection with this export scheme.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section.  Assistant United States Attorneys Artie McConnell and Ellen H. Sise are in charge of the prosecution, along with Trial Attorney Christopher M. Cook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, with assistance from Litigation Analysts Mary Clare McMahon and Joseph Levin.  Assistant United States Attorney Laura Mantell of the Office’s Asset Recovery Section is handling forfeiture matters.

The FBI, Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement’s New York Field Office, and Department of Homeland Security Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the case.

These actions were coordinated through the Justice and Commerce Departments’ Disruptive Technology Strike Force and the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture. The Disruptive Technology Strike Force is an interagency law enforcement strike force co-led by the Departments of Justice and Commerce designed to target illicit actors, protect supply chains, and prevent critical technology from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation states. Task Force KleptoCapture is an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export restrictions and economic countermeasures that the United States has imposed, along with its allies and partners, in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine.

Six Men Sentenced for Roles in $20M COVID-19 Relief Fraud Ring

 

Six Texas men were sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy to fraudulently obtain more than $20 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans that the Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.  

Hamza Abbas, 31, Ammas Uddin, 31, and Arham Uddin, 27, all of Richmond, were sentenced to three years and eight months, one year and six months, and one year and six months in prison, respectively; Syed Ali, 55, of Sugar Land, was sentenced to two years in prison; and Muhammad Anis, 55, and Jesus Acosta Perez, 33, both of Houston, were sentenced to one year and nine months and one year and one day in prison, respectively. All six defendants previously pleaded guilty.

According to court documents, the defendants conspired together and with others to fraudulently obtain PPP loans by, among other means, supplying information about their businesses to be used to submit false and fraudulent PPP loan applications. Specifically, the PPP loan applications falsified the numbers of employees and the average monthly payroll expenses of the applicant businesses. The loan applications also included fraudulent bank records and fake federal tax forms in support of the PPP loan applications. Abbas also recruited others into the conspiracy and created fraudulent bank records that were used in support of the loan applications in exchange for kickbacks.  

The defendants also laundered a portion of the fraudulent proceeds by writing checks from companies that received PPP loans to fake employees. These fake paychecks were cashed at certain cash checking businesses, including one owned by another co-conspirator.

In January, three other individuals who previously pleaded guilty were sentenced for their roles in the loan fraud scheme. Raheel Malik, 43, of Sugar Land, was sentenced to one year and six months in prison; Nishant Patel, 41, of Houston, was sentenced to two years in prison; and Harjeet Sing, 50, of Katy, was sentenced to five years of probation. 

In October 2023, seven other individuals were sentenced for their roles in the loan fraud conspiracy, including the ringleader, Amir Aqeel, 55, of Houston, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas, Special Agent in Charge Brady Ipock of the SBA Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG) Central Region, Special Agent in Charge Catherine Huber of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General’s (FHFA-OIG) Central Region, Special Agent in Charge Mark Dawson of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Houston, Special Agent in Charge Anand Ramlall of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG) Dallas Region, and Special Agent in Charge Gary Smith of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) Gulf States Field Division made the announcement.

The SBA-OIG, FHFA-OIG, HSI, FDIC-OIG, and TIGTA are investigating the cases. 

Trial Attorneys Kate McCarthy, Louis Manzo, Spencer Ryan, Della Sentilles, and Randall Warden of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rodolfo Ramirez and Kristine Rollinson for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the cases.  

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.