⏱ 2 min read
David Breen, a 54-year-old South Carolina businessman, pleaded guilty to COVID relief fraud in federal court in Worcester, Massachusetts. Breen, who operated a bowling entertainment business called ‘Pinz’ in Milford, Mass., misused over $1.2 million in Economic Injury and Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds for personal expenses, including building a home in Mount Pleasant, S.C., and purchasing luxury vehicles. The fraud occurred between March 2022 and June 2023, when Breen received approximately $1.5 million from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to support his business during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Breen’s guilty plea comes after an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Massachusetts Inspector General’s Office, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of Inspector General. The charge of theft of government property carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
Breen’s case is a prime example of the abuse of COVID relief funds, which were intended to support small businesses struggling during the pandemic. Instead, Breen used the funds to finance his personal lifestyle, including the purchase of a $111,000 truck and a $98,289 Mercedes. The sentencing is scheduled for June 25, 2026, and will be determined by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman.
The investigation and prosecution of Breen’s case demonstrate the government’s commitment to holding individuals accountable for COVID relief fraud. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and its partners will continue to work together to identify and prosecute those who seek to exploit the COVID relief programs for personal gain.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Massachusetts
- Location: MA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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