Miranda Devlin, PPP Loan Fraud, California 2021

A San Francisco woman has been charged with fraudulently obtaining pandemic relief funds and impersonating attorneys, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Craig D. Fair.

Miranda Devlin, aka Miranda Martin, aka Miranda Petrillo, has been charged in a federal criminal complaint with mail fraud and with making false statements on an application for coronavirus relief funds. Devlin, 37, of San Francisco, allegedly used a shell company to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program, known as PPP, out of pandemic relief funds.

The Paycheck Protection Program provides a critically important safety net for legitimate businesses suffering real losses. However, Devlin allegedly committed serial fraud, using the program for unauthorized non-payroll expenses, such as purchases from Amazon, Bloomingdale’s, and Tiffany & Co., and for purchases of stock.

Devlin also impersonated multiple California licensed attorneys by using their names and license numbers. She was retained by two defendants facing serious criminal charges in Marin County Superior Court and initially appeared in court as “Miranda Martin.”

When questioned, she thereafter pivoted and assumed the identity of another attorney, Miranda Petrillo. Devlin was arrested for impersonating an attorney after a court appearance on November 26, 2019, in Marin County.

The complaint alleges that Devlin submitted an application for a PPP loan in the amount of $32,700 on behalf of an entity she created, the Common Nucleus of Cancer, LLC (CNC). In CNC’s application, Devlin made multiple false statements and provided false IRS documents to support the statements.

Devlin made her initial appearance in federal court on February 12, 2021, before the Honorable Laurel Beeler, United States Magistrate Judge. Devlin was released on bond and currently faces a federal criminal complaint with mail fraud and making false statements on an application for coronavirus relief funds.

The case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California.

Defendant: Miranda Devlin; Charges: Mail fraud, making false statements on an application for coronavirus relief funds; City and state: San Francisco, California; Exact date: February 12, 2021; Sentence or outcome: Currently awaiting trial on a federal criminal complaint; Dollar amounts: $32,700.

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