Pierre Rogers, PPP Loan Fraud, California 2022

CONCORD, CA – A brazen attempt to fleece the federal government of over $3.5 million in COVID-19 relief funds ended with a guilty plea from Pierre Rogers, 44, of Irvine, California. Rogers, along with his accomplice Joshua Leavitt, systematically targeted the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programs, designed to keep businesses afloat during the pandemic’s early days.

According to federal prosecutors, Rogers and Leavitt conspired to submit fraudulent loan applications, inflating payroll numbers and employee counts to qualify for larger payouts. One particularly galling example involved a $175,000 PPP loan application for Puro Group. The application claimed a monthly payroll of $70,000 and six employees – a complete fabrication. Rogers knowingly signed the application, which included a forged IRS Form 941 claiming nearly $210,000 paid to five employees in the first quarter of 2020 and $27,600 in federal taxes. The real story? Actual 2020 payroll for the company totaled just $48,255.53 for the entire year.

The scheme wasn’t limited to PPP loans. Leavitt also secured a $29,000 EIDL and a $7,000 Economic Injury Disaster Grant for Monticello Transnational, another company linked to Rogers. This application falsely stated $75,000 in gross revenues and seven employees. Bank records revealed a different picture: minimal deposits and no record of employee payments. Furthermore, the company hadn’t filed tax returns for 2019 or early 2020, a clear red flag ignored in the rush to distribute funds.

Perhaps the most shocking detail? Rogers didn’t use the stolen funds to save a struggling business. Instead, he blew $107,780 on a luxurious Rolls Royce Ghost – a blatant display of greed funded by taxpayer dollars meant for those genuinely in need. The total attempted fraud exceeded $3.5 million, a staggering sum in a time of widespread economic hardship.

Rogers pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud and faces sentencing on January 31, 2023. He’s been ordered to pay $803,756 in restitution. His co-conspirator, Joshua Leavitt, has already pleaded guilty to similar charges and is scheduled to be sentenced on January 11, 2023. The investigation was a joint effort by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, the U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case. This case serves as a stark reminder that those who exploit crises for personal gain will be held accountable, and the Grimy Times will continue to track these financial crimes as they unfold. The pursuit of justice in these cases is essential to protect the integrity of vital programs and ensure resources reach those who legitimately need them.

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