Stephen L. Gurba, Covid Loan Fraud, Florida 2020

A Belleair man has been accused of using his deceased business partner's identity to obtain millions of dollars in Covid loans, according to federal authorities.

Stephen L. Gurba, 68, was indicted on charges of wire fraud, making a false statement to a financial institution, and aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg.

The indictment alleges that between March and June 2020, Gurba submitted false and fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications and supporting documentation on behalf of Big Red Express Trucking, LLC and Zenith Express, LLC.

To obtain approval and funding for the Big Red and Zenith EIDL loans, Gurba fraudulently assumed the identity of his former business partner who passed away in 2019, listed his former business partner's name, signature, and other means of identification on the EIDL loan applications certifying under criminal penalty that the applications were true and correct.

Gurba also used his deceased business partner's name and forged his signature on the EIDL loan authorization agreements and loan notes he submitted to the Small Business Administration (SBA). During post-loan related communications with the SBA, Gurba continued to impersonate his deceased business partner.

As a result of his fraudulent scheme, Gurba induced the SBA to approve and fund the Big Red and Zenith EIDL loans. Additionally, Gurba applied for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan on behalf of Big Red from an SBA authorized financial institution.

Gurba certified and signed under criminal penalty that all the PPP loan proceeds would be spent on payroll, mortgages, rent, or other SBA authorized expenses. In reality, Gurba used the majority of the PPP proceeds to enrich himself, family members, payoff unrelated business debts, and other impermissible expenses.

The indictment also notifies Gurba that the United States intends to forfeit approximately $1.2 million, which is alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offenses.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General and the Small Business Association – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor.

The Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the federal government in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud.

If convicted, Gurba faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count of wire fraud (2 counts), 30 years in prison on the false statement count, and a 2-year mandatory term of imprisonment on the aggravated identity theft counts (2 counts).

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Stephen L. Gurba with the aforementioned crimes.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the federal government in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the federal government's National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form.

The defendant's exact criminal charges include wire fraud, making a false statement to a financial institution, and aggravated identity theft.

Gurba's crimes were committed in Tampa, Florida.

The exact date of Gurba's crimes is between March and June 2020.

The total amount of money involved in the case is approximately $1.2 million.

Gurba's current status is that he has been indicted and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count of wire fraud (2 counts), 30 years in prison on the false statement count, and a 2-year mandatory term of imprisonment on the aggravated identity theft counts (2 counts).

The investigation into Gurba's crimes is ongoing.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/bellair-man-indicted-covid-loan-fraud-using-deceased-former-business-partners-identity