Benjamin Young, Fraud, Oregon 2025

Provo, Utah – In a shocking turn of events, 39-year-old Benjamin Young, a former Financial Manager for a non-profit organization, is accused of embezzling over $4 million in funds.

According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon, Young used his position to gain access to the organization’s financial accounts and divert funds, including federally backed Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, between July 2020 and May 2025.

The stolen funds were allegedly used to purchase two properties in Provo, Utah, a $3.5 million commercial office suite and a $570,000 condominium. Young is accused of laundering the funds and transferring them to his personal bank accounts.

The scheme is believed to be multi-layered, with Young using a fictitious $2.5 million short-term loan to secure a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loan under false pretenses. The funds used to purchase the properties actually came from the diverted PPP loan proceeds and other funds Young diverted from his employer.

The Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General are leading the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Cardani handling the civil forfeiture action.

The United States will seek to forfeit the two properties, which are valued at $4 million. The accusations in the complaint constitute only allegations that certain property is subject to forfeiture, and the United States must prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the property is subject to forfeiture.

Defendant: Benjamin Young, 39, of Provo, Utah. Crime: Embezzlement and money laundering. City and State: Provo, Utah. Exact Date: July 2020 through May 2025. Sentence: To be determined. Dollar amounts: $4 million, $3.5 million, $570,000.

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