Nasser Salman, Wire Fraud and Money Laundering, California 2023

Nasser Salman, a 60-year-old former San Diego resident living in Morocco, was arraigned in federal court today on charges that he fraudulently obtained more than $400,000 in COVID-relief loan funds on behalf of three companies.

According to the indictment, Salman submitted fraudulent applications to the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) in connection with Lemon Grove Deli and Grill, Inc., Al Laith Trading and Construction Consulting Inc. and Alliance Security Consulting Services, Inc.

The indictment said that between April and August 2020, Salman successfully obtained five separate PPP and EIDL loans totaling $401,000 using applications that included false representations about the number of employees, the average monthly payroll, and the gross receipts earned by these purported businesses. Salman also submitted fictitious documents in support of the applications.

“These loan programs were designed to render economic relief to Americans during an unprecedented public health emergency,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “This office is dedicated to investigating and prosecuting those who exploited the global pandemic to enrich themselves. We encourage anyone with information regarding individuals who have engaged in COVID-relief fraud to come forward.”

A detention hearing is scheduled for May 9, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara L. Major.

Salman faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine for wire fraud and up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or twice the amount of the monetary instruments involved for money laundering.

Anyone with general information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s 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.

Salman is charged with five counts of wire fraud and six counts of laundering of monetary instruments.

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