A Massachusetts businessman has been held accountable for his role in the misuse of pandemic relief funds.
Jesse Lelievre, 42, of North Andover, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to two years of supervised release, with the first five months as home detention.
Lelievre was also ordered to pay $179,090 in restitution, stemming from his misuse of $179,000 in Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds.
Lelievre, the owner and manager of Paramount Plumbing & Heating LLC, applied for a loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in 2021, but instead of using the funds for his business, he directed them into a bank account he controlled and used them for personal expenses, including buying a diamond ring and remodeling his home.
The scheme was uncovered after an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General.
Lelievre pleaded guilty to theft of government property in September 2024, after being charged in July 2024.
This case is part of the Attorney General’s COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, which aims to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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