Kent Tompkins, Wire Fraud, Alaska 2023

A high-profile case of Covid-19 relief fund fraud has been uncovered in Alaska, with 55-year-old Sterling businessman Kent Tompkins at the center of the scandal.

According to a federal indictment, Tompkins made false statements about his criminal history on Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications for his business, J & B Construction.

In 2018, Tompkins was indicted on multiple felony grand theft charges in South Dakota and was convicted in August 2020.

During the alleged scheme, Tompkins applied for two EIDL loans—one in May 2020 and one in November 2021. On both applications, which were submitted after he had been indicted and arraigned in South Dakota, Tompkins falsely stated that he had not been presently or recently subject to an indictment or arraignment for formal criminal charges.

Tompkins allegedly obtained over $95,000 in relief funds through the first loan application and attempted to obtain $276,500 through the second loan application.

Tompkins is charged with wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1343. The defendant made his initial court appearance on April 17 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah M. Smith of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska.

The indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case is being investigated by the Small Business Association Office of Inspector General and the FBI Anchorage Field Office.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ak/pr/sterling-businessman-indicted-covid-19-relief-fund-fraud