Related Federal Cases
- Crypto Dreams & COVID Cash: Rideshare Driver Accused of $2M Scam · California
- Dorothy Matsuba Led $30M Mortgage Relief Fraud Scheme · California
- Wall Street Bailout: NY & CA Lose $2 Trillion · North Carolina
- Sacramento Con Man Gets 4+ Years for $1.1M Tax Heist · California
- Hand Sanitizer Scam: $2.4M Grab Lands Colorado Man in Court · Colorado
El Sobrante Man Stole $1.1M in COVID Relief $$
A federal grand jury has indicted 53-year-old Lane Jenkins of El Sobrante, California, for allegedly stealing over $1.1 million in COVID-19 relief funds.
Jenkins, the president of A & L Investments LLC, applied for and received two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans in 2021, totaling over $1 million. The loans were based on false and fraudulent representations that his company had dozens of employees and hundreds of thousands of dollars in monthly payroll expenses. In fact, A&L had zero employees and no monthly payroll.
The indictment also alleges that Jenkins applied for and received an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) of nearly $95,000 in July 2020 for a maid and cleaning service he said he operated as a sole proprietor. The application falsely stated that Jenkins had 10 employees and gross revenues of $241,353. In fact, he had no employees and no revenues.
Jenkins used the stolen funds for personal expenses and to pay off personal debts, rather than using them for approved business expenses. The PPP was administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, a federal law enacted in March 2020 to provide billions of dollars in emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The indictment charges Jenkins with three counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343, and one count of submitting false writings to a government agency, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(3). If convicted, Jenkins faces a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison on each of the three counts of wire fraud and a maximum statutory sentence of 5 years in prison on the fourth count.
Jenkins has not yet appeared in court to face the charges against him. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Chambers is prosecuting the case, which is the result of an investigation by the FBI and SBA-OIG.
According to the indictment, Jenkins used the stolen funds to enrich himself, rather than using them to help his community or support the economy during the pandemic. The case highlights the importance of accountability and transparency in the use of public funds, and the need for stiff penalties for those who engage in fraudulent activities.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News