Related Federal Cases
- Crypto Dreams & COVID Cash: Rideshare Driver Accused of $2M Scam · California
- Hand Sanitizer Scam: $2.4M Grab Lands Colorado Man in Court · Colorado
- Artful Dodge: Medicare Scam Lands Owner in Hot Water · Pennsylvania
- SoCal Grifter Gets 5.5 Years for SBA Scam · California
- Tax Cheat Gets 18 Months for $1.2M Scam · Alabama
Clovis Businessman Lands 1 Year for $1.4M COVID-19 Relief Scam
FRESNO, Calif. — Ruben Mireles, 48, of Clovis, is going down for stealing $1.4 million in COVID-19 relief money, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
Mireles, owner and operator of a farm labor contracting business in Kings County, initially went by the name Vista Pacific Labor Solutions Inc. (VPLS) before changing it to Calzona Ag Management Inc., doing business as Vista Pacific Farm Management (CAM).
In January 2021, after VPLS changed its name to CAM, Mireles caused CAM to apply for and receive a COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for $1.4 million from the Small Business Administration (SBA). Then, in April 2021, Mireles caused VPLS to apply for and receive another PPP loan for $1.4 million from the SBA based on false information.
In the second loan application, Mireles falsely represented to the SBA that VPLS was a separate company from CAM when, in fact, VPLS and CAM were the same company. Mireles also falsely represented that he had not received any other PPP loans, even though he had previously received CAM’s loan. Finally, Mireles falsely represented that he was not subject to any pending criminal charges when he was actually facing state fraud charges.
Based on Mireles’ representations, VPLS’s loan application was approved and the $1.4 million, to which he was not entitled, was deposited into his bank account.
U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced the sentence, saying, ‘Mireles defrauded the system and stole money that was meant to help people in need during a pandemic.’
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the SBA Office of Inspector General with assistance from the California Department of Insurance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of a California COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force operation, one of five interagency COVID-19 fraud strike force teams established by the U.S. Department of Justice. The California Strike Force combines law enforcement and prosecutorial resources in the Eastern and Central Districts of California and focuses on large-scale, multistate pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors.
The strike forces use prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. Mireles will serve his sentence at the Sacramento Federal Correctional Institution.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News