Joseph Giannini, COVID Fraud, New York 2020

Rochester, NY - Joseph Giannini, a 54-year-old man from Chicago, IL, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with COVID-19 relief loan scams.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of New York, Giannini submitted false applications to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster (EIDL) loan programs in April and May 2020. These programs were designed to provide funding to businesses negatively impacted by the pandemic.

Giannini applied for seven fraudulent loans for various businesses, making false representations about profits and employee payrolls for those businesses. The total amount of the loans he applied for was $606,635.00, and he was paid $280,135.00.

One of the fraudulent applications was submitted on behalf of Spin Marketing Inc., a Rochester business owned by co-defendant Ann Spinosa. Spinosa is currently charged by federal indictment.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations Division.

Giannini's sentencing is scheduled for September 29, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The case serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance in preventing and detecting COVID-19 relief loan scams.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdny/pr/illinois-man-charged-covid-fraud