BUFFALO, N.Y. – The U.S. Attorney’s office has dropped a重磅 on Roberto Soliman, 43, of Niagara Falls, who has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, crimes that could land him behind bars for up to 30 years and cost him a cool million in fines.
Soliman is accused of orchestrating a scheme to defraud COVID-19 relief programs out of over $1.8 million. The mastermind, along with co-defendant John Hutchins, are alleged to have colluded with others to file fraudulent loan applications for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) under various businesses owned by Hutchins.
From March 2020 to March 2024, Soliman and Hutchins reportedly swindled $779,500 in Economic Injury Disaster Loans and an additional $989,905.05 from the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant. They also pocketed a PPP loan of $74,838 from Bank on Buffalo and another $41,140 from Northwest Bank, all through deceitful revenue and expense figures.
John Hutchins has already copped to his crimes and is now waiting for his sentencing date. Soliman’s plea comes after an extensive investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the New York State Office of Professional Discipline.
The defendant’s sentencing is set for October 29, 2025, before Judge Meredith A. Vacca, who will decide his fate in this grim saga of financial chicanery.
Stay tuned to the Grimy Times as we continue to bring you the gritty details of the crime that shocked Niagara Falls and beyond.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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