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Shelton Scammer Cantave Fleeces $96,200 from COVID Relief
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced today that TONY STERLIN CANTAVE, 45, of Shelton, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty to defrauding a COVID-19 pandemic relief program.
Cantave pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government money (18 U.S.C. § 641) and one count of making an illegal monetary transaction (18 U.S.C. § 1957). Each charge carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2020, Cantave applied for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The application contained a number of materially false statements, including that the business for which Cantave sought the loan, Arbitrage 1 Media, was an ongoing, legitimate business involved in the limousine and transportation business.
After the SBA reviewed and approved the fraudulent EIDL application, Cantave received $96,200. He then used the proceeds from the loan to pay for personal and non-business expenses, including $16,607.26 to pay off an automobile loan.
Cantave has agreed to pay $104,176.21 in restitution.
Cantave has two prior federal convictions. In December 1999, he was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 18 months of imprisonment for a firearm offense, and in February 2015, he was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 13 months of imprisonment for his participation in a U.S. Postal Service money order fraud scheme.
This investigation has been conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang.
Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’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
Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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