SCRANTON, PA – Joseph Kaminski, 58, of Nanticoke, Luzerne County, is facing a federal indictment for a brazen scheme to steal over $850,000 in pandemic relief funds. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced the indictment on July 29, 2025, alleging a calculated effort to exploit the crisis for personal gain.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Kaminski allegedly engaged in the fraud from approximately January 2020 to January 2025. The scheme centered around the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, designed to help struggling businesses survive the pandemic. Kaminski is accused of fraudulently obtaining over $850,000.00 through false pretenses.
But the alleged greed didn’t stop there. The indictment further claims Kaminski also defrauded the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, pocketing over $40,000.00 in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits he wasn’t entitled to. This double-dip into taxpayer funds paints a picture of a man relentlessly pursuing illicit profit during a time of widespread hardship.
The investigation, a joint effort by IRS-Criminal Investigations and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, highlights the government’s ongoing crackdown on pandemic-related fraud. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffery St John and Tatum Wilson are leading the prosecution, determined to hold Kaminski accountable for his alleged actions. This case is part of the broader COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, established by the Attorney General in May 2021 to coordinate and bolster efforts to combat pandemic fraud.
Federal authorities are urging anyone with information about potential COVID-19 fraud to come forward. Tips can be reported to the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or submitted via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. The Department of Justice is committed to pursuing all avenues to recover stolen funds and prosecute those responsible.
If convicted, Kaminski faces a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release, and a substantial fine. However, it’s crucial to remember that an indictment is merely an allegation, and Kaminski is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The Judge will determine the final sentence based on federal sentencing statutes and guidelines. # # #
RELATED: West Nanticoke Drug KingpinDaniyel Heyward Indicted
Related Federal Cases
- Solon Exec Accused of $1.5M Parker Hannifin Heist · Pennsylvania
- West View Savings Exec Accused of $41K Heist · Pennsylvania
- NJ Couple Accused of $2M Tax Refund Heist · Pennsylvania
- WV Man Accused of Cross-State Heist: $16K in Bonds & Stolen SUV · Colorado
- Heinz Endowments IT Pro Accused of $1M Heist · Pennsylvania
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
White Collar CrimeWhite Collar CrimeWhite Collar CrimeWhite Collar Crime