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New Orleans Man Indicted for CARES Act Fraud, Money Laundering Scam
New Orleans Man, IRVIN C. FRANCOIS, III, 53, of New Orleans, is facing up to 15 years behind bars and $500,000 in fines after being indicted for CARES Act fraud and money laundering.
According to a statement released by the Department of Justice, USAO, FRANCOIS was indicted on June 20, 2025, for making false statements and money laundering related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
On March 27, 2020, President Donald Trump signed into law the CARES Act, providing emergency assistance to small business owners affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). However, it appears that FRANCOIS had other plans for the $144,790 he obtained through the program.
According to the indictment, on March 24, 2021, FRANCOIS made false statements to an approved lender to secure the PPP loan. He then used the ill-gotten funds to purchase a vehicle from a dealership in Kenner, Louisiana.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson stressed that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. If found guilty, FRANCOIS faces up to 5 years in prison for the false statement count and up to 10 years in prison for the money laundering count. The indictment also includes up to $250,000 in fines, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
The case was investigated by an agent assigned to the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Fraud Task Force. The PRAC was established to promote transparency and facilitate coordinated oversight of the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Those with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions, especially when it comes to exploiting government programs meant to assist those in need.
Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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