Meelad Dezfooli of Henderson, Nevada, has been sentenced to over 15 years in prison for his role in a $11 million COVID-19 relief fraud and money laundering scheme. The sentence, handed down by the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, also includes five years of supervised release.
Dezfooli, who was indicted on charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft, was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,793,064.15, forfeiture of $11,231,186.52, and to forfeit two vehicles and five properties.
The Justice Department’s Criminal Division Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti emphasized the gravity of Dezfooli’s crime, stating that such schemes undermine public trust in government relief programs. ‘This defendant stole more than $11 million in taxpayer funds that he used to finance luxury purchases and gambling,’ Galeotti said.
Acting U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada highlighted the impact of Dezfooli’s actions on legitimate small businesses during the pandemic. ‘The consequences of the defendant’s PPP loan fraud scheme have caught up with him, and now he will be incarcerated for exploiting more than $11.2 million from a taxpayer-funded program,’ Chattah said.
Special Agent in Charge Carissa Messick of IRS Criminal Investigation’s (IRS-CI) Phoenix Field Office emphasized the importance of protecting American taxpayers. ‘This loan program was created to support small businesses and their employees during a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. When Mr. Dezfooli fraudulently obtained these loans, he not only stole from the Small Business Administration but also from American taxpayers to the tune of $11.2 million,’ Messick said.
According to evidence presented at trial, Dezfooli submitted three fraudulent applications on behalf of entities he controlled, obtaining more than $11 million with falsified documents and grossly inflated numbers. He laundered the money by purchasing approximately 25 properties in Nevada, often using aliases or fictitious entities.
RELATED: Nevada Man Sentenced For $11M PPP Fraud & Money Laundering
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Key Facts
- State: Nevada
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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