Court filing
Indictment — United States v. Andrew Marnell (Dkt. 38, C.D. Cal. No. 2:20-cr-00319)
Filed September 7, 2021 in United States v. Andrew Marnell; one of 60 filings from this case.
Record facts
| Court | U.S. District Court for the Central District of California |
|---|---|
| Filed | 2021-09-07 |
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California · No. 2:20-cr-00319-RGK · Doc. 38 · 2021-09-07 · Docket on CourtListener
Full text
1 II TRACY L. WILKISON
Acting United States Attorney
2 II SCOTT M. GARRINGER
Assistant United States Attorney
3 II Chief, Criminal Division
KERRY L. QUINN (Cal. Bar No. 302954)
4 II Assistant United States Attorney
Major Frauds Section
5 II
1100 United States Courthouse
312 North Spring Street
6 II
Los Angeles, California 90012
Telephone:
(213) 894-5423
7 11
Facsimile:
(213) 894-6269
8
E-mail:
Kerry.L.Quinn@usdoj.gov
JOSEPH BEEMSTERBOER
9 II Acting Chief, Fraud Section
SCOTT ARMSTRONG
10 II Trial Attorney
Fraud Section, Criminal Division
11 111400 New York Ave NW
Washington,· DC, 20005
12 II Telephone: (202) 353-0801
13
E-mail:
Scott.Armstrong@usdoj.gov
Attorneys for Plaintiff
14 I UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
15 11
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
16 11
FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
1 7 II UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
18 II
Plaintiff,
19 II
V.
20 II ANDREW MARNELL,
21 II
Defendant .
No. CR 20-319-RGK
PLEA AGREEMENT FOR DEFENDANT
ANDREW MARNELL
22
23
1.
This constitutes the plea agreement between ANDREW MARNELL
24 11 ("defendant") and the United States Attorney's Office for the Central
25 II District of California (the "USAO") and the Fraud Section of the
26 II Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice
27 II (collectively with the USAO, the "Offices") in the above-captioned
28 \lease.
This agreement is limited to the Offices and cannot bind any
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 1 of 54 Page ID #:219
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
other federal, state, local, or foreign prosecuting, enforcement,
administrative, or regulatory authorities.
DEFENDANT'S OBLIGATIONS
2.
Defendant agrees to:
a.
Give up the right to indictment by a grand jury and,
at the earliest opportunity requested by the Offices and provided by
the Court, appear and plead guilty to counts one and two of the two
count superseding information in the form attached to this agreement
as Exhibit A or a substantially similar form, which charges defendant
with bank fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344(2) and money
laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957.
b.
Not contest facts agreed to in this agreement.
c.
Abide by all agreements regarding sentencing contained
in this agreement.
d.
Appear for all court appearances, surrender as ordered
for service of sentence, obey all conditions of any bond, and obey
any other ongoing court order in this matter.
e.
Not commit any crime; however, offenses that would be
excluded for sentencing purposes under United States Sentencing
Guidelines ("U.S.S.G." or "Sentencing Guidelines") § 4Al.2(c) are not
within the scope of this agreement.
f.
Be truthful at all times with the United States
Probation and Pretrial Services Office and the Court.
g.
Pay the applicable special assessments at or before
the time of sentencing unless defendant has demonstrated a lack of
ability to pay such assessments.
h.
Defendant agrees that any and all criminal debt
28 II obligations ordered by the Court will be due in full and immediately.
2
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 2 of 54 Page ID #:220
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
The government is not precluded from pursuing, in excess of any
payment schedule set by the Court, any and all available remedies by
which to satisfy defendant's payment of the full financial
obligation, including referral to the Treasury Offset Program.
i.
Complete the Financial Disclosure Statement on a form
provided by the Offices and, within 30 days of defendant's entry of a
guilty plea, deliver the signed and dated statement, along with all
of the documents requested therein, to the USAO by either email at
usacac.FinLit@usdoj.gov (preferred) or mail to the USAO Financial
Litigation Section at 300 North Los Angeles Street, Suite 7516, Los
Angeles, CA 90012.
Defendant agrees that defendant's ability to pay
criminal debt shall be assessed based on the completed Financial
Disclosure Statement and all required supporting documents, as well
as other relevant information relating to ability to pay.
j.
Authorize the Offices to obtain a credit report upon
returning a signed copy of this plea agreement.
k.
Consent to the Offices inspecting and copying all of
defendant's financial documents and financial information held by the
United States Probation and Pretrial Services Office.
3.
F ORFEITURE AND FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY
Defendant further agrees:
a.
To forfeit all right, title, and interest in and to
23
any and all monies, properties, and/or assets of any kind, derived
24
from or acquired as a result of, or used to facilitate the commission
25
of, or involved in the illegal activity to which defendant is
26
pleading guilty, specifically including, but not limited to, the
27
following (collectively, the "Forfeitable Property"):
28
3
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 3 of 54 Page ID #:221
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
i.
$319,298.50 in United States currency seized
from defendant's residence;
11 .
One Rolex Oyster watch serial 3341V2104 seized
from defendant's residence;
iii.
One Rolex Oyster watch serial LW576819 seized
from defendant's residence;
iv.
One 2020 Land Rover Range Rover, VIN:
SALGS2SE7LA597796 seized from defendant's residence;
v.
One 2020 Ducati Motorcycle, VIN:
ZDMDAGNW6LB014163 seized from defendant's residence;
vi.
One SanDisk thumbdrive, 1B80, FBI bar code
E6512901 seized from defendant's residence;
vii.
One Lenovo ThinkPad 3 Dock, 1B77, FBI bar code
E6512898 seized from defendant's residence;
viii.
One MacBook Model A1286, Serial Number:
W8016CXHAGU, 1B70, FBI bar code E6512891 seized from defendant's
residence;
ix.
One Dell Latitude Laptop, Serial Number:
6WM6NN2, 1B69, FBI bar code E6512890 seized from defendant's
residence;
x.
One Lenovo Yoga Laptop, Model Name: 80Y7,
Serial Number: PF0YW75K, 1B68, FBI bar code E6512889 seized from
defendant's residence;
xi.
One Dell Latitude Laptop, Serial Number:
858BJM2, 1B67, FBI bar code E6512888 seized from defendant's
residence;
xii.
Five SanDisk USB sticks, 1B65, FBI bar code
E6512886 seized from defendant's residence;
4
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 4 of 54 Page ID #:222
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
xiii.
One black Apple Watch with black band, 1B64,
FBI bar code E6512885 seized from defendant's residence;
xiv.
One Gamer Storm tower, Serial Number:
DC2016082400194, 1B62, FBI bar code E6512883 seized from defendant's
residence;
xv.
One Lenovo ThinkCentre computer tower, Model
Number: Sl7Y00, Serial Number: MJ06EL2N, 1B59, FBI bar code E6512880
seized from defendant's residence;
XVl.
One white and blue PNY USB flash drive, 32GB,
10 II 1B57, FBI bar code E6512878 seized from defendant's residence;
11
xvii.
One digital camera Coolpix L310 with SD card
12
in Lowepro case, 1B56, FBI bar code E6512877 seized from defendant's
13
residence;
14
xviii. One iPhone 11 in black Spigen case, 1B54, FBI
15
bar code E6512875 seized from defendant's residence;
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
xix.
One Aria flash drive, 1B52, FBI bar code
E6512873 seized from defendant's residence;
xx.
One iWatch, Serial Number: FHLQKEBCG9J8 in
42mm case without band, 1B51, E6512872 seized from defendant's
residence;
xxi.
One Anker external hard drive, 1B50, FBI bar
code E6512871 seized from defendant's residence;
xxii.
One Garmin watch, M/N: HRM-S33 with band,
1B49, FBI bar code E6512870 seized from defendant's residence;
xxiii.
One Royal Caribbean flash drive, 1B48, FBI bar
code E6512869 seized from defendant's residence;
5
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 5 of 54 Page ID #:223
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
xxiv.
One white and gold iPhone, Model A1533, IMEI:
357989057801980 in rubber case, 1B46, FBI bar code E6512867 seized
from defendant's residence;
xxv.
One white nvery Koolu cell phone, 1B45, FBI
bar code E6512866 seized from defendant's residence;
xxvi.
One grey MacBook, Model A2251, Serial Number:
C02CWHKFML7H, 1B41, FBI bar code E6512862 seized from defendant's
8 II residence;
9
xxvii.
One iPad in Louis Vuitton case cover, 1B37,
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
FBI bar code E6512858 seized from defendant's residence;
xxviii. One grey MacBook, Model A2179, Serial Number:
C02CQ20MPV4M, in blue case, 1B34, FBI bar code E6512855 seized from
defendant's residence;
xxix.
One grey MacBook, Model A2251, Serial Number:
C02CJBZMML7H, 1B33, FBI bar code E6512854 seized from defendant's
residence;
xxx.
One Lenovo ThinkPad Xl, Serial Number: R9-
0QGLTR, 1B32, FBI bar code E6512853 seized from defendant's
residence;
xxxi.
One grey iPhone in black Spigen phone case,
1B31, FBI bar code E6512852 seized from defendant's residence;
xxxii.
One grey Samsung phone, IMEI: 352620111233028,
1B30, in black Spigen phone case, FBI bar code E6512851 seized from
defendant's residence;
xxxiii. One grey Samsung phone, IMEI: 352620111356092,
1B29, FBI bar code E6512850 seized from defendant's residence;
xxxiv.
One unknown digital device, 1B66, FBI bar code
E6512887 seized from defendant's residence;
6
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 6 of 54 Page ID #:224
1
xxxv. $165,894.19 seized from an account ending 6944
2
at Interactive Brokers LLC held in the name of Xtractd LLC;
3
xxxvi. $3,321.90 seized from an account ending 9164 at
4
Interactive Brokers LLC held in the name of Andrew J. Marnell;
5
xxxvii. $ 526.32 seized from an account ending 2842 at
6
Interactive Brokers LLC held in the name of Andrew J. Marnell;
7
xxxix.
$1,366,895.04 seized from an account ending
8
2627 at Charles Schwab Inc. and Charles Schwab Futures, subsidiaries
9
of Charles Schwab Corporation held in the name of Andrew Marnell;
10
xl.
$5,217.77 seized from an account ending 6538
11
at Aspiration Financial LLC held in the name of Andrew Marnell; and
12
xli.
$324.84 seized from an account ending 6561 at
13
Aspiration Financial LLC held in the name of Andrew Marnell.
14
b.
To the Court's entry of an order of forfeiture at or
15
before sentencing with respect to the Forfeitable Property and to the
16
forfeiture of the assets.
17
C .
That the Preliminary Order of Forfeiture shall become
18
final as to the defendant upon entry.
19
d.
To take whatever steps are necessary to pass to the
20
United States clear title to the Forfeitable Property, including,
21
without limitation, the execution of a consent decree of forfeiture
22
and the completing of any other legal documents required for the
23
transfer of title to the United States.
24
e.
Not to contest any administrative forfeiture
25 proceedings or civil judicial proceedings commenced against the
26
Forfeitable Property.
If defendant submitted a claim and/or petition
27
for remission for all or part of the Forfeitable Property on behalf
28
of himself or any other individual or entity, defendant shall and
7
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 7 of 54 Page ID #:225
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
hereby does withdraw any such claims or petitions, and further agrees
to waive any right he may have to seek remission or mitigation of the
forfeiture of the Forfeitable Property. Defendant further waives any
and all notice requirements of 18 U.S.C. § 983(a) (1) (A).
f.
Not to assist any other individual in any effort
falsely to contest the forfeiture of the Forfeitable Property.
g.
Not to claim that reasonable cause to seize the
Forfeitable Property was lacking.
h.
To prevent the transfer, sale, destruction, or loss of
any and all assets described above to the extent defendant has the
ability to do so.
i .
To fill out and deliver to the USAO a completed
financial statement listing defendant's assets on a form provided by
14
the USAO.
15
j.
That forfeiture of Forfeitable Property shall not be
16
counted toward satisfaction of any special assessment, fine,
17
restitution, costs, or other penalty the Court may impose.
18
k.
With respect to any criminal forfeiture ordered as a
19
result of this plea agreement, defendant waives: (1) the requirements
20
of Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure 32.2 and 43(a) regarding
21
notice of the forfeiture in the charging instrument, announcements of
22
the forfeiture at sentencing, and incorporation of the forfeiture in
23
the judgment; (2) all constitutional and statutory challenges to the
24
forfeiture (including by direct appeal, habeas corpus or any other
25
means); and (3) all constitutional, legal, and equitable defenses to
26
the forfeiture of the Forfeitable Property in any proceeding on any
27
grounds including, without limitation, that the forfeiture
28
constitutes an excessive fine or punishment.
Defendant acknowledges
8
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 8 of 54 Page ID #:226
1
that the forfeiture of the Forfeitable Property is part of the
2
sentence that may be imposed in this case and waives any failure by
3
the Court to advise defendant of this, pursuant to Federal Rule of
4
Criminal Procedure ll(b) (1) (J), at the time the Court accepts
5
defendant's guilty pleas.
6
THE OFFICES' OBLIGATIONS
7
8
9
4.
The Offices agree to:
a.
Not contest facts agreed to in this agreement.
b.
Abide by all agreements regarding sentencing contained
10
in this agreement.
11
c.
Except for criminal tax violations (including
12
conspiracy to commit such violations chargeable under 18 U.S.C.
13
§ 371), not further criminally prosecute defendant for violations of
14
15 U.S.C. § 645 and 18 U.S.C. §§ 1001, 1014, 1028, 1029, 1341, 1344,
15
1956, and 1957, arising out of defendant's conduct described in the
16
agreed-to factual basis set forth in Exhibit B to this agreement.
17
Defendant understands that the Offices are free to criminally
18
prosecute defendant for any other unlawful past conduct or any
19
unlawful conduct that occurs after the date of this agreement.
20
Defendant agrees that at the time of sentencing the Court may
21
consider the uncharged conduct in determining the applicable
22
Sentencing Guidelines range, the propriety and extent of any
23
departure from that range, and the sentence to be imposed after
24
consideration of the Sentencing Guidelines and all other relevant
25
factors under 18 U .S .C. § 3553 (a) .
26
d.
At the time of sentencing, move to dismiss the
27
underlying indictment as against defendant.
Defendant agrees,
28
however, that at the time of sentencing the Court may consider any
9
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 9 of 54 Page ID #:227
1
dismissed charges in determining the applicable Sentencing Guidelines
2
range, the propriety and extent of any departure from that range, and
3
the sentence to be imposed.
4
e.
At the time of sentencing, provided that defendant
5
demonstrates an acceptance of responsibility for the offenses up to
6
and including the time of sentencing, recommend a two-level reduction
7
in the applicable Sentencing Guidelines offense level, pursuant to
8
U.S.S.G. § 3El.1, and recommend and, if necessary, move for an
9
additional one-level reduction if available under that section.
10
f.
Recommend that defendant be sentenced to a term of
11
imprisonment no higher than the low end of the applicable Sentencing
12
Guidelines range, provided that the offense level used by the Court
13
to determine that range is 31 or higher and provided that the Court
14
does not depart downward in offense level or criminal history
15
category.
For purposes of this agreement, the low end of the
16
Sentencing Guidelines range is that defined by the Sentencing Table
17
in U.S.S.G. Chapter 5, Part A.
18
NATURE OF THE OFFENSES
19
5.
Defendant understands that for defendant to be guilty of
20
the crime charged in count one of the superseding information, that
21
is, bank fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section
22
1344(2), the following must be true:
23
First, defendant knowingly carried out a scheme or plan to
24
obtain money or property from a financial institution by making
25
false statements or promises;
26
Second, defendant knew that the statements or promises were
27
false;
28
10
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 10 of 54 Page ID
#:228
1 II
Third, the statements or promises were material, that is, they
2 II
had a natural tendency to influence, or were capable of
3
influencing, a financial institution to part with money or
4
property;
5 II
Fourth, defendant acted with the intent to defraud, that is, the
6 II
intent to deceive and cheat; and
7 II
Fifth, the financial institution was federally insured.
8 II
6.
Defendant understands that for defendant to be guilty of
9 II the crime charged in count two of the superseding information, that
10 llis, money laundering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code,
11 II Section 1957, the following must be true:
12
First, the defendant knowingly engaged or attempted to engage in
13
a monetary transaction;
14 II
Second, the defendant knew the transaction involved criminally
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
derived property;
Third, the property had a value greater than $10,000;
Fourth, the property was, in fact, derived from bank fraud as
alleged in count two of the superseding information ; and
Fifth, the transaction occurred in the United States.
The term "monetary transaction" means the deposit, withdrawal,
transfer, or exchange, in or affecting interstate commerce, of funds
or a monetary instrument by, through, or to a financial institution.
The term "criminally derived property" means any property
constituting, or derived from, the proceeds of a criminal offense.
PENALTIES AND RESTITUTION
7.
Defendant understands that the statutory maximum sentence
that the Court can impose for a violation of Title 18, United States
Code, Section 1344(2), is: 30 years' imprisonment; a 5-year period of
11
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 11 of 54 Page ID
#:229
1 II supervised release; a fine of $1,000,000 or twice the gross gain or
2 II gross loss resulting from the offense, whichever is greatest; and a
3 llmandatory special assessment of $100.
4 II
8.
Defendant understands that the statutory maximum sentence
5 II that the Court can impose for a violation of Title 18, United States
6 II Code, Section 1957, is: 10 years' imprisonment; a 3-year period of
7 II supervised release; a fine of $250,000 or twice the twice the amount
8 llof the criminally derived property involved in the offense, whichever
9 llis greatest; and a mandatory special assessment of $100.
10
9.
Defendant understands, therefore, that the total maximum
11 II sentence for all offenses to which defendant is pleading guilty is:
12 1140 years' imprisonment; a 5-year period of supervised release; a fine
13 llof $1,250,000 or twice the gross gain or gross loss resulting from
14 II the offenses, whichever is greatest; and a mandatory special
15 II assessment of $200.
16
10.
Defendant understands that defendant will be required to
17
pay full restitution to the victims of the offenses to which
18
defendant is pleading guilty.
Defendant agrees that, in return for
19
the Offices' compliance with their obligations under this agreement,
20
the Court may order restitution to persons other than the victims of
21
the offenses to which defendant is pleading guilty and in amounts
22
greater than those alleged in the counts to which defendant is
23
pleading guilty.
In particular, defendant agrees that the Court may
24
order restitution to any victim of any of the following for any
25
losses suffered by that victim as a result: (a) any relevant conduct,
26
as defined in U.S.S.G. § lBl.3, in connection with the offenses to
27
which defendant is pleading guilty; and (b) any counts dismissed and
2 8 charges not prosecuted pursuant to this agreement as well as all
12
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 12 of 54 Page ID
#:230
1 II relevant conduct, as defined in U.S.S.G. § lBl.3, in connection with
2 II those counts and charges.
The parties currently believe that the
3 II applicable amount of restitution is approximately $7,341,376.33, but
4 II recognize and agree that this amount could change based on facts that
5 II come to the attention of the parties prior to sentencing.
6 II
11.
Defendant understands that under 21 U.S.C. § 862a,
7 II defendant will not be eligible for assistance under state programs
8 II funded under the Social Security Act or Federal Food Stamp Act or for
9 II federal food stamp program benefits, and that any such benefits or
10 II assistance received by defendant's family members will be reduced to
11 II reflect defendant's ineligibility.
12 II
12.
Defendant understands that supervised release is a period
13 llof time following imprisonment during which defendant will be subject
14 llto various restrictions and requirements.
Defendant understands that
15
if defendant violates one or more of the conditions of any supervised
16
release imposed, defendant may be returned to prison for all or part
17
of the term of supervised release authorized by statute for the
18
offense that resulted in the term of supervised release, which could
19
result in defendant serving a total term of imprisonment greater than
20
the statutory maximum stated above.
21
13.
Defendant understands that, by pleading guilty, defendant
22
may be giving up valuable government benefits and valuable civic
23
rights, such as the right to vote, the right to possess a firearm,
24
the right to hold office, and the right to serve on a jury. Defendant
25
understands that he is pleading guilty to a felony and that it is a
26
federal crime for a convicted felon to possess a firearm or
27
ammunition.
Defendant understands that the convictions in this case
28
may also subject defendant to various other collateral consequences,
13
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 13 of 54 Page ID
#:231
1 II including but not limited to revocation of probation, parole, or
2 II supervised release in another case and suspension or revocation of a
3 II professional license.
Defendant understands that unanticipated
4
collateral consequences will not serve as grounds to withdraw
5
defendant's guilty pleas.
6
14.
Defendant and his counsel have discussed the fact that, and
7 II defendant understands that, if defendant is not a United States
8
citizen, the convictions in this case makes it practically inevitable
9
and a virtual certainty that defendant will be removed or deported
10
from the United States.
Defendant may also be denied United States
11
citizenship and admission to the United States in the future.
12
Defendant understands that while there may be arguments that
13
defendant can raise in immigration proceedings to avoid or delay
14 II removal, removal is presumptively mandatory and a virtual certainty
15
in this case.
Defendant further understands that removal and
16
immigration consequences are the subject of a separate proceeding and
17
that no one, including his attorney or the Court, can predict to an
18
absolute certainty the effect of his convictions on his immigration
19
status.
Defendant nevertheless affirms that he wants to plead guilty
20
regardless of any immigration consequences that his pleas may entail,
21
even if the consequence is automatic removal from the United States.
22
FACTUAL BASIS
23
15.
Defendant admits that defendant is, in fact, guilty of the
24
offenses to which defendant is agreeing to plead guilty.
Defendant
25
and the Offices agree to the statement of facts set forth in Exhibit
26
B to this agreement and incorporated herein by reference, and agree
27
that this statement of facts is sufficient to support pleas of guilty
28
to the charges described in this agreement and to establish the
14
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 14 of 54 Page ID
#:232
1 II Sentencing Guidelines factors set forth in paragraph 17 below but is
2 II not meant to be a complete recitation of all facts relevant to the
3 II under lying criminal conduct or all facts known to either party that
4 II relate to that conduct.
5 II
SENTENCING FACTORS
6
1 6.
Defendant understands that in determining defendant's
7 II sentence the Court is required to calculate the applicable Sentencing
8 II Guidelines range and to consider that range, possible departures
9 II under the Sentencing Guidelines, and the other sentencing factors set
10 II forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). Defendant understands that the
11 II Sentencing Guidelines are advisory only, that defendant cannot have
12 II any expectation of receiving a sentence within the calculated
13 II Sentencing Guidelines range, and that after considering the
14 II Sentencing Guidelines and the other § 3553(a) factors, the Court will
15 llbe free to exercise its discretion to impose any sentence it finds
16 II appropriate up to the maximum set by statute for the crimes of
1 7 II conviction.
18
17.
Defendant and the Offices agree to the following applicable
19 11 Sentencing Guidelines factors:
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Base Offense Level:
Specific Offense
Characteristics
Intended loss greater than
$9,500,000 and less than or
7
equal to $25,000,000
+20
More than $1,000,000 derived
from a financial institution
+2
1957 Money Laundering
+1
15
[ U. S . S. G. § 2B 1. 1 (a) ( 1) ]
[U.S.S.G. § 2B1.l(b) (1) (K)]
[ U . S • S . G. § 2B 1 . 1 ( b) ( 1 7 ) ]
[ U. S . S. G. §§ 2 S 1. 1 (a) ( 1) &
(b) (2) (A), 3Dl.2(c)]
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 15 of 54 Page ID
#:233
1
18.
Defendant and the Offices reserve the right to argue that
2 II additional specific offense characteristics, adjustments, and
3 II departures under the Sentencing Guidelines are appropriate.
4 II
19.
Defendant understands that there is no agreement as to
5 II defendant's criminal history or criminal history category.
6 II
20.
Defendant and the Offices reserve the right to argue for a
7 II sentence outside the sentencing range established by the Sentencing
8 II Guidelines based on the factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553 (a) (1),
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
(a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(6), and (a)(7).
WAIVER OF CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
21.
Defendant understands that by pleading guilty, defendant
gives up the following rights:
a.
The right to persist in a plea of not guilty.
b.
The right to a speedy and public trial by jury.
c.
The right to be represented by counsel
and if
16
necessary have the Court appoint counsel -- at trial.
Defendant
17
understands, however, that, defendant retains the right to be
18
represented by counsel -- and if necessary have the Court appoint
19
counsel -- at every other stage of the proceeding.
20
d.
The right to be presumed innocent and to have the
21
burden of proof placed on the government to prove defendant guilty
22
beyond a reasonable doubt.
23
e.
The right to confront and cross-examine witnesses
24
against defendant.
25
f.
The right to testify and to present evidence in
26
opposition to the charges, including the right to compel the
27
attendance of witnesses to testify.
28
16
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 16 of 54 Page ID
#:234
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
g.
The right not to be compelled to testify, and, if
defendant chose not to testify or present evidence, to have that
choice not be used against defendant.
h.
Any and all rights to pursue any affirmative defenses,
Fourth Amendment or Fifth Amendment claims, and other pretrial
motions that have been filed or could be filed.
WAIVER OF RETURN OF DIGITAL DATA
22.
Understanding that the government has in its possession
digital devices and/or digital media seized from defendant, defendant
waives any right to the return of digital data contained on those
digital devices and/or digital media and agrees that if any of these
digital devices and/or digital media are returned to defendant, the
government may delete all digital data from those digital devices
and/or digital media before they are returned to defendant.
WAIVER OF APPEAL OF CONVICTION
23.
Defendant understands that, with the exception of an appeal
17
based on a claim that defendant's guilty pleas were involuntary, by
18
pleading guilty defendant is waiving and giving up any right to
19
appeal defendant's convictions on the offenses to which defendant is
20
pleading guilty.
Defendant understands that this waiver includes,
21
but is not limited to, arguments that the statutes to which defendant
22
is pleading guilty are unconstitutional, and any and all claims that
23
the statement of facts provided herein is insufficient to support
24
defendant's pleas of guilty.
25
LIMITED MUTUAL WAIVER OF APPEAL OF SENTENCE
26
24.
Defendant agrees that, provided the Court imposes a total
27
term of imprisonment on all counts of conviction of no more than 135
28
months, defendant gives up the right to appeal all of the fol lowing:
17
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 17 of 54 Page ID
#:235
1 II {a) the procedures and calculations used to determine and impose any
2 II portion of the sentence; (b) the term of imprisonment imposed by the
3
Court; {c) the fine imposed by the Court, provided it is within the
4
statutory maximum; {d) to the extent permitted by law, the
5
constitutionality or legality of defendant's sentence, provided it is
6
within the statutory maximum; (e) the amount and terms of any
7 II restitution order, provided it requires payment of no more than
8
$7,341,376.33; (f) the term of probation or supervised release
9
imposed by the Court, provided it is within the statutory maximum;
10
and {g) any of the following conditions of probation or supervised
11
release imposed by the Court: the conditions set forth in Amended
12
General Order 20-04 of this Court; the drug testing conditions
13
mandated by 18 U.S.C. §§ 3563{a) (5) and 3583(d); and the alcohol and
14
drug use conditions authorized by 18 U.S. C. § 3 5 63 (b) (7) .
15
25.
The Offices agree that, provided {a) all portions of the
16
sentence are at or above the statutory minimum and at or below the
17
statutory maximum specified above and (b) the Court imposes a term of
18
imprisonment of no less than 108 months, the Offices give up their
19
right to appeal any portion of the sentence, with the exception that
20
the Offices reserve the right to appeal the amount of restitution
21
ordered if that amount is less than $7,341,376.33.
22
WAIVER OF COLLATERAL ATTACK
23
26.
Defendant also gives up any right to bring a post-
24
conviction collateral attack on the convictions or sentence,
25
including any order of restitution, except a post-conviction
26
collateral attack based on a claim of ineffective assistance of
27
counsel, a claim of newly discovered evidence, or an explicitly
28
retroactive change in the applicable Sentencing Guidelines,
18
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 18 of 54 Page ID
#:236
1
sentencing statutes, or statutes of conviction.
Defendant
2
understands that this waiver includes, but is not limited to,
3
arguments that the statutes to which defendant is pleading guilty are
4
unconstitutional, and any and all claims that the statement of facts
5
provided herein is insufficient to support defendant's pleas of
6
guilty.
The agreement in this paragraph does not affect in any way
7
the right of the Offices to appeal the sentence imposed by the Court.
8
RESULT OF WITHDRAWAL OF GUILTY PLEA
9
27.
Defendant agrees that if, after entering guilty pleas
10 II pursuant to this agreement, defendant seeks to withdraw and succeeds
11
in withdrawing defendant's guilty pleas on any basis other than a
12
claim and finding that entry into this plea agreement was
13
involuntary, then (a) the Offices will be relieved of all of its
14
obligations under this agreement; and (b) should the Offices choose
15
to pursue any charge that was either dismissed or not filed as a
16
result of this agreement, then (i) any applicable statute of
17
limitations will be tolled between the date of defendant's signing of
18
this agreement and the filing commencing any such action; and
19
(ii)
defendant waives and gives up all defenses based on the statute
20
of limitations, any claim of pre-indictment delay, or any speedy
21
trial claim with respect to any such action, except to the extent
22
that such defenses existed as of the date of defendant's signing this
23
agreement.
24
RESULT OF VACATUR, REVERSAL OR SET-ASIDE
25
28.
Defendant agrees that if any count of conviction is
26
vacated, reversed, or set aside, the Offices may:
(a) ask the Court
27
to resentence defendant on the remaining count of conviction, with
28
both the Offices and defendant being released from any stipulations
19
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 19 of 54 Page ID
#:237
1
regarding sentencing contained in this agreement, (b) ask the Court
2
to void the entire plea agreement and vacate defendant's guilty plea
3 lion the remaining count of conviction, with both the Offices and
4 II defendant being released from all their obligations under this
5 II agreement, and defendant agreeing that any statute of limitations
6 II will be tolled, and all speedy trial claims and claims of pre-
7 II indictment delay will be waived, to the same extent as if a breach
8 II had been declared, or (c) leave defendant's remaining conviction,
9
sentence, and plea agreement intact.
Defendant agrees that the
10
choice among these three options rests in the exclusive discretion of
11
the Offices.
12
13
EFFECTIVE DATE OF AGREEMENT
29.
This agreement is effective upon signature and execution of
14 II all required certifications by defendant, defendant's counsel, and an
15
Assistant United States Attorney.
16
BREACH OF AGREEMENT
17
30.
Defendant agrees that if defendant, at any time after the
18
effective date of this agreement, knowingly violates or fails to
19
perform any of defendant's obligations under this agreement ("a
20
breachn), the Offices may declare this agreement breached.
All of
21
defendant's obligations are material, a single breach of this
22
agreement is sufficient for the Offices to declare a breach, and
23
defendant shall not be deemed to have cured a breach without the
24
express agreement of the Offices in writing.
If the Offices declare
25
this agreement breached, and the Court finds such a breach to have
26
occurred, then: (a) if defendant has previously entered guilty pleas
27
pursuant to this agreement, defendant will not be able to withdraw
28
20
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 20 of 54 Page ID
#:238
1
the guilty pleas, and (b) the Offices will be relieved of all their
2
obligations under this agreement.
3
31.
Following the Court's finding of a knowing breach of this
4
agreement by defendant, should the Offices choose to pursue any
5
charge that was either dismissed or not filed as a result of this
6
agreement, then:
7
a.
Defendant agrees that any applicable statute of
8
limitations is tolled between the date of defendant's signing of this
9
agreement and the filing commencing any such action.
10
b.
Defendant waives and gives up all defenses based on
11
the statute of limitations, any claim of pre-indictment delay, or any
12
speedy trial claim with respect to any such action, except to the
13
extent that such defenses existed as of the date of defendant's
14
signing this agreement.
15
c.
Defendant agrees that: (i) any statements made by
16
defendant, under oath, at the guilty plea hearing (if such a hearing
17
occurred prior to the breach); (ii) the agreed to factual basis
18
statement in this agreement; and (iii) any evidence derived from such
19
statements, shall be admissible against defendant in any such action
20
against defendant, and defendant waives and gives up any claim under
21
the United States Constitution, any statute, Rule 410 of the Federal
22
Rules of Evidence, Rule ll(f) of the Federal Rules of Criminal
23
Procedure, or any other federal rule, that the statements or any
24
evidence derived from the statements should be suppressed or are
25
inadmissible.
26
27
28
21
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 21 of 54 Page ID
#:239
1
2
3
COURT AND UNITED STATES PROBATION AND PRET RIAL SERVICES
OFFICE NOT PARTIES
32.
Defendant understands that the Court and the United States
4 II Probation and Pretrial Services Office are not parties to this
5 II agreement and need not accept any of the Offices' sentencing
6
recommendations or the parties' agreements to facts or sentencing
7
factors.
8
33.
Defendant understands that both defendant and the Offices
9
are free to: (a) supplement the facts by supplying relevant
10
information to the United States Probation and Pretrial Services
11
Office and the Court,
(b) correct any and all factual misstatements
12
relating to the Court's Sentencing Guidelines calculations and
13
determination of sentence, and (c) argue on appeal and collateral
14
review that the Court's Sentencing Guidelines calculations and the
15
sentence it chooses to impose are not error, although each party
16
agrees to maintain its view that the calculations in paragraph 17 are
17
consistent with the facts of this case.
While this paragraph permits
18
both the Offices and defendant to submit full and complete factual
19
information to the United States Probation and Pretrial Services
20
Office and the Court, even if that factual information may be viewed
21
as inconsistent with the facts agreed to in this agreement, this
22
paragraph does not affect defendant's and the Offices' obligations
23
not to contest the facts agreed to in this agreement.
24
34.
Defendant understands that even if the Court ignores any
25
sentencing recommendation, finds facts or reaches conclusions
26
different from those agreed to, and/or imposes any sentence up to the
27
maximum established by statute, defendant cannot, for that reason,
28
withdraw defendant's guilty pleas, and defendant will remain bound to
22
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 22 of 54 Page ID
#:240
1
2
3
4
5
6
fulfill all defendant's obligations under this agreement.
Defendant
understands that no one
not the prosecutor, defendant's attorney,
or the Court -- can make a binding prediction or promise regarding
the sentence defendant will receive, except that it will be within
the statutory maximum.
NO ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
7
35.
Defendant understands that, except as set forth herein, and
8
in any agreement or addendum signed by all parties, there are no
9
promises, understandings, or agreements between the Offices and
10
defendant or defendant's attorney, and that no additional promise,
11
understanding, or agreement may be entered into unless in a writing
12
signed by all parties or on the record in court.
13 II I I
14 11 I I
15 11 I I
16 II I I
17
II
18
II
19
II
20
II
21
II
22
II
23
II
24
II
25 II I I
2 6 II I I
27 I I I
28 II I I
23
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 23 of 54 Page ID
#:241
1
2
PLEA AGREEMENT PART OF THE GUILTY PLEA HEARING
36.
The parties agree that this agreement will be considered
3 II part of the record of defendant's guilty plea hearing as if the
4 II entire agreement had been read into the record of the proceeding.
5 II AGREED AND ACCEPTED
6 II UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
8 II CRIMINAL DIVISION, FRAUD SECTION
9 II TRACY L. WILK! SON
10
11
Acting United States Attorney
KERRY L. QUINN
12 II Assistant United States Attorney
SCOTT ARMSTRONG
Trial Attorney, F raud Section
NEHA CHRI STERNA
Attorney for Defendant ANDREW MARNELL
Date
Dau
Date
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
CERTIFICATION OF DEFENDANT
I have read this agreement in its enti rety.
I have had enough
22 II time to review and consider this agreement, and I have carefully and
23
thoroughly discussed every part of it with my attorney.
I understand
24
the terms of this agreement, and I voluntarily agree to those terms.
25
I have discussed the evidence with my attorney, and my attorney has
26
advised me of my rights, of possible pretrial motions that might be
27
filed, of possible defenses that might be asserted either prior to or
28
at trial, of the sentencing factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a),
24
9/3/21
09/03/2021
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 24 of 54 Page ID
#:242
1 llof relevant Sentencing Guidelines provisions, and of the consequences
2 llof entering into this agreement.
No promises, inducements, or
3 II representations of any kind have been made to me other than those
4 II contained in this agreement.
No one has threatened or forced me in
5 II any way to enter into this agreement.
I am satisfied with the
6 II representation of my attorney in this matter, and I am pleading
7 II guilty because I am guilty of the charges and wish to take advantage
8 llof the promises set forth in this agreement, and not for any other
9
10
11
12
13
14
reason.
`
WRNELL
filJ
I
l
Date
Defendant
CERTIFICATION OF DEFENDANT'S ATTORNEY
I am ANDREW MAR NELL's attorney.
I have carefully and thoroughly
15
discussed every part of this agreement with my client.
Further, I
16
have fully advised my client of his rights, of possible pretrial
17 II motions that might be filed, of possible defenses that might be
18 II asserted either prior to or at trial, of the sentencing factors set
19 II forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), of relevant Sentencing Guidelines
20 II provisions, and of the consequences of entering into this agreement.
21 II To my knowledge: no promises, inducements, or representations of any
22 II kind have been made to my client other than those contained in this
23 II agreement; no one has threatened or forced my client in any way to
24 II enter into this agreement; my client's decision to enter into this
25 II agreement is an informed and voluntary one; and the factual basis set
26
27
28
25
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 25 of 54 Page ID
#:243
1 II forth in this agreement is sufficient to su pport my client's entry of
2 II guilty pleas pursuant to this agreement.
3
4 II NEHA CHRISTERNA
Attorney for Defendant
5 II ANDREW MARNELL
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Date
26
9/3/21
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 26 of 54 Page ID
#:244
EXHIBIT A
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 27 of 54 Page ID
#:245
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
UNITED STA TES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10 II UNITED STA TES OF A!YlERICA,
11 11
Plaintiff,
12 11
V.
13 II A NDREW MARNELL,
aka "Andrew Maxwell,"
14 11
aka "Andrew Merrill,"
aka "Tyler Lerman,"
15
Defendant.
CR No. 20- 319(A)-RGK
F I R S T
- - - - -
S U P E R S E D I N G
-----------
I N F O R M A T I O N
-----------
[18 U .S .C. § 1344 (2): Bank Fraud;
18 U.S.C. § 1957: Money
Laundering); 18 U.S.C. § 982:
Criminal Forfeiture]
16
17
18
19
The Acting United States Attorney charges:
20 IIA.
21
22
23
COUNT ONE
[18 U.S.C. §§1344(2), 2(b)]
INTRODUCTORY ALLEGATIONS
At times relevant to this First Superseding Information:
Defendant MARNELL and the MARNELL-Controlled Entities
37.
Defendant ANDREW MARNELL, also known as ("aka") "Andrew
24 II Maxwell," aka "Andrew Merrill," aka "Tyler Lerman," was a resident of
25 II Los Angeles, California.
26
38.
Defendant MARNELL owned and controlled corporate entities
27 II registered in various states under various names, including Shale
28
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 28 of 54 Page ID
#:246
1
Creek LLC ("Shale Creek"), Slatestone LLC ("Slatestone"), and
2
Quicksilver LLC ("Quicksilver") ( the "MARNELL-controlled entities") .
3
The Paycheck Protection Program
4
39.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security
5
("CARES") Act was a federal law enacted in or around March 2020 and
6
designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of
7
Americans who were suffering the economic effects caused by the
8
COVID-19 pandemic.
One source of relief provided by the CARES Act
9
was the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to
10
small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses,
11
through a program referred to as the Paycheck Protection Program
12
("PPP").
In or around April 2020, Congress authorized over $300
13
billion in additional PPP funding.
14
40.
In order to obtain a PPP loan, a qualifying business was
15
required to submit a PPP loan application signed by an authorized
16
representative of the business.
The PPP loan application required
17
the business (through its authorized representative) to acknowledge
18
the program rules and make certain affirmative certifications in
19
order to be eligible to obtain the PPP loan.
In the PPP loan
20
application, the applicant (through its authorized representative)
21
was required to state, among other things, its: (a) average monthly
22
payroll expenses; and (b) number of employees.
These figures were
23
used to calculate the amount of money the small business was eligible
24
to receive under the PPP.
In addition, the applicant was required to
25
provide documentation showing its payroll expenses.
26
41.
A business's PPP loan application was received and
27
processed, in the first instance, by a participating lender.
If a
28
PPP loan application was approved, the participating lender funded
2
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 29 of 54 Page ID
#:247
1
the PPP loan using its own monies.
Data from the application,
2
including information about the borrower, the total amount of the
3 II loan, and the listed number of employees, was transmitted by the
4 lllender to the Small Business Administration ("SBA") in the course of
5 II processing the loan.
6 II
42.
PPP loan proceeds were required to be used by the business
7 lion certain permissible expenses:
payroll costs, interest on
8 I mortgages, rent, and utilities.
The PPP allowed the interest and
9 II principal on the PPP loan to be entirely forgiven if the business
10 II spent the loan proceeds on these expense items within a designated
11
period of time after receiving the proceeds and used a certain amount
12
of the PPP loan proceeds on payroll expenses.
13
Financial Institutions & Bank Account Controlled By Defendant MARNELL
14
43.
Lender A was a financial institution based in Texas and was
15
an SBA approved lender of PPP loans.
16
44.
Casino 1 was a casino and gaming establishment with an
17
annual gaming revenue of more than $1,000,000 and was licensed under
18
the laws of the State of Nevada, and qualified as a "financial
19
institution" for the purpose of 31 U.S.C. § 5312 and 18 U.S.C.
20
§ 1957.
21
45.
Bank A was a financial institution based in San Francisco,
22 IICalifornia.
23
46.
Defendant MARNELL controlled and was a signatory to
24
multiple accounts at an affiliate of Bank A, which was a broker
25
registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
26
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. § 78a et seq.), and
27
qualified as a "financial institution" for the purpose of 31 U.S.C.
28
§ 5312 and 18 U.S.C. § 1957.
Among the accounts that defendant
3
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 30 of 54 Page ID
#:248
1 II MARNELL controlled at the Bank A affiliate was an individual
2 llbrokerage account in the name of "Andrew Justin Marnell," account
3
number ending in 2627 (the "2627 account") .
4
B.
THE SCHEME TO DEFRAUD
5 II
4 7.
Beginning in or about March 2020, and continuing until on
6 llor about July 16, 2020, in Los Angeles County, within the Central
7 II District of California, and elsewhere, defendant MARNELL, together
8 II with others known and unknown to the Acting United States Attorney,
9 II knowingly and with intent to defraud, devised, participated in,
10 II executed, and attempted to execute a scheme to obtain moneys, funds,
11 I credits, assets, and other property owned by and in the custody and
12 II control of Lender A by means of materially false and fraudulent
13 II pretenses, representations, and promises, and the concealment of
14 llmaterial facts.
15
48.
The fraudulent scheme operated and was carried out, in
16 II substance, as follows:
17
a.
Defendant MARNELL submitted, and caused to be
18
submitted, false and fraudulent applications to Lender A for PPP
19
loans purportedly on behalf of the MARNELL-controlled entities
2 0
(collectively, the "PPP Applications") .
Specifically:
21
i. On or about April 14, 2020, defendant MARNELL
22
submitted, and caused to be submitted, an application for a PPP loan
23
in the amount of $439,000 for borrower Shale Creek, which was
24
represented to be a Montana-headquartered firm, owned and controlled
2 5
by "Tyler Lerman," having 2 6 employees and average monthly payroll
26
expenses of $175,600;
27
ii. On or about April 29, 2020, defendant MARNELL
28
submitted, and caused to be submitted, an application for a PPP loan
4
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 31 of 54 Page ID
#:249
1
in the amount of $1,341,700 for borrower Slatestone, which was
2
represented to be a Wyoming-headquartered firm, owned and controlled
3
by "Andrew Merrill," having 75 employees and average monthly payroll
4
expenses of $536,680; and
5
iii.
On or about May 11, 2020, defendant MARNELL
6
submitted, and caused to be submitted, an application for a PPP loan
7
in the amount of $1,818,000 for borrower Quicksilver, which was
8
represented to be a Montana-headquartered firm, owned and controlled
9
by "Andrew Maxwell," having 129 employees and average monthly payroll
10
expenses of $727,200.
11
b.
Defendant MARNELL submitted, and caused to be
12
submitted, false documents and information to Lender A to obtain and
13
to try to obtain PPP loans in the names of the MARNELL-controlled
14
entities, including the following:
15
i. A false identification document concerning the
16
ownership and control of Quicksilver, namely, a photograph of a fake
17
United States passport in the name of "Andrew Maxwell," with
18
defendant MARNELL's picture;
19
ii. False Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") Form 940 tax
20
forms for Shale Creek, Slatestone, and Quicksilver, purporting to be
21
Employer's Annual Federal Unemployment Tax Act Returns filed with the
22
IRS for those entities; and
23
iii. False payroll data and documentation for Shale
24
Creek, Slatestone, and Quicksilver, including documents purporting to
25 be payroll registers for 2019 and 2020, purporting to show wages paid
26
to employees of those entities.
27
28
5
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 32 of 54 Page ID
#:250
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
c.
Defendant MARNELL made, and caused to be made, false
statements in the PPP Applications, which defendant MARNELL knew were
false when he made them and caused them to be made.
For example:
i. Defendant MARNELL falsely represented that the funds
sought through the PPP Applications would be used to pay payroll and
other business expenses of the MARNELL-controlled entities, when, in
fact, defendant MARNELL intended to use and did use the PPP loan
proceeds to fund options and futures trading activities, to engage in
gambling and entertainment activities, and to pay other personal
expenses;
ii. Defendant MARNELL falsely represented that "the
Applicant has not and will not receive another loan under the
Paycheck Protection Program," and that the applicant did not own any
other business or have common management with any other business,
15 II when, in fact, defendant MARNELL intended to and did obtain other
16
loans under the Paycheck Protection Program for the MARNELL-
17
controlled entities and all the MARNELL-controlled entities had
18
common management; and
19
iii. Defendant MARNELL falsely represented that "Tyler
20
Lerman," "Andrew Merrill," and "Andrew Maxwell" were the owners of
21
the MARNELL-controlled entities, when, in fact, as defendant MARNELL
22
then knew, he owned and controlled those entities.
23
d.
In reliance on defendant MARNELL's materially false
24
statements and his concealment of material facts, Lender A approved
25
and funded the PPP loans sought by defendant MARNELL in the names of
26
the MARNELL-controlled entities.
Specifically, on or about the
27
following dates, Lender A sent the following funding wires:
28
6
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 33 of 54 Page ID
#:251
1
i. On or about April 16, 2020, Lender A wired, via ACH
2
transfer, approximately $439,000 to an account ending 2842 at
3
Interactive Brokers LLC, maintained in defendant MARNELL's name;
4
ii. On or about May 11, 2020, Lender A wired, via ACH
5
transfer, approximately $1,341,700 to the 2627 account; and
6
iii. On or about May 12, 2020, Lender A wired, via ACH
7
transfer, approximately $1,818,000 to an account ending 6279 at Live
8
Oak Banking Company, which was a business account in Quicksilver's
9
name on which defendant MARNELL was the sole signer.
10
e.
From on or about April 16, 2020, through on or about
11
July 16, 2020, in contravention of defendant MARNELL's
12
representations to Lender A and PPP rules, defendant MARNELL used PPP
13
loan proceeds from Lender A to, among other things, fund options and
14
futures trading activities, to engage in gambling and entertainment
15
activities, and to pay other personal expenses.
16
C.
EXECUTION OF THE SCHEME
17
49.
On or about April 29, 2020, in Los Angeles County, within
18
the Central District of California, and elsewhere, defendant MARNELL
19
committed and willfully caused others to commit an act which
20
constituted an execution of the fraudulent scheme, namely, the
21
submission of an application to Lender A for a PPP loan in the name
22
of Slatestone.
23
24
25
26
27
28
7
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 34 of 54 Page ID
#:252
1
2
3
COUNT TWO
[18 U.S.C. §§ 1957, 2(b)]
50.
On or about June 5, 2020, in Los Angeles County, within the
4
Central District of California, and elsewhere, defendant ANDREW
5
MARNELL, aka "Andrew Maxwell," aka "Andrew Merrill," aka "Tyler
6
Lerman," knowing that the funds involved represented the proceeds of
7
some form of unlawful activity, engaged in and willfully caused
8
others to engage in a monetary transaction, in and affecting
9
interstate commerce, in criminally derived property of a value
10
greater than $10,000, namely, the transfer of $150,000 from the 2627
11
Account to Casino 1, which property, in fact, was derived from
12
specified unlawful activity, namely, bank fraud, in violation of
13 Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344(2), as charged in Count
14
One of this First Superseding Information.
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
8
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 35 of 54 Page ID
#:253
1
2
3
FORFEITURE ALLEGATION ONE
[18 U.S.C. § 982(a)(2)]
51.
Pursuant to Rule 32.2(a) of the Federal Rules of Criminal
4 II Procedure, notice is hereby given that the United States of America
5 l\will ·seek forfeiture as part of any sentence, pursuant to Title 18,
6 II United States Code, Section 982 (a) (2), in the event of the conviction
7 II of defendant ANDREW MARNELL, aka "Andrew Maxwell," aka "Andrew
8 II Merrill," aka "Tyler Lerman," of the offense set forth in Count One
9 II of this First Superseding Information.
10
5 2.
Defendant MARNELL, if so convicted, shall forfeit to the
11 II United States of America the following:
12 II
(a) All right, title and interest in any and all property,
13 II real or personal, constituting, or derived from, any proceeds
14 II obtained, directly or indirectly, as a result of the offense; and
15
(b) To the extent such property is not available for
16
forfeiture, a sum of money equal to the total value of the property
1 7 11 described in subparagraph (a).
18
53.
Pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Section 853(p),
19
as incorporated by Title 18, United States Code, Section 982(b),
20
defendant MARNELL, if so convicted, shall forfeit substitute
21
property, up to the total value of the property described in the
22
preceding paragraph if, as the result of any act or omission of
23
defendant MARNELL, the property described in the preceding paragraph,
24
or any portion thereof: (a) cannot be located upon the exercise of
25
due diligence; (b) has been transferred, sold to or deposited with a
26
third party; (c) has been placed beyond the jurisdiction of the
27
court; (d) has been substantially diminished in value; or (e) has
28
9
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 36 of 54 Page ID
#:254
1
been commingled with other property that cannot be divided without
2
difficulty.
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
10
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 37 of 54 Page ID
#:255
1
2
3
FORFEITURE ALLEGATION TWO
[18 U.S.C. § 982(a) (1)]
54.
Pursuant to Rule 32.2(a) of the Federal Rules of Criminal
4 II Procedure, notice is hereby given that the United States will seek
5 II forfeiture as part of any sentence, pursuant to Title 18, United
6 II States Code, Section 982 (a) (1), in the event of the conviction of
7 II defendant ANDREW MARNELL, aka "Andrew Maxwell," aka "Andrew Merrill,"
8
aka "Tyler Lerman," of the offense set forth in Count Two of this
9
First Superseding Information.
10
55.
Defendant MARNELL, if so convicted, shall forfeit to the
11 11 United States of America the following:
12
(a)
Any property, real or personal, involved in such
13
offense, and any property traceable to such property; and
14
(b)
To the extent such property is not available for
15
forfeiture, a sum of money equal to the total value of the property
16
described in subparagraph (a).
17
56.
Pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Section 853(p),
18
as incorporated by Title 18, United States Code, Section 982(b) (1),
19
and Title 18, United States Code, Section 982(b) (2), the defendant,
20
if so convicted, shall forfeit substitute property, if, by any act or
21
omission of the defendant, the property described in the preceding
22
paragraph, or any portion thereof: (a) cannot be located upon the
23
exercise of due diligence; (b) has been transferred, sold to, or
24
deposited with a third party; (c) has been placed beyond the
25
jurisdiction of the court; (d) has been substantially diminished in
26
value; or (e) has been commingled with other property that cannot be
27
divided without difficulty. Substitution of assets shall not be
28
ordered, however, where the convicted defendant acted merely as an
11
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 38 of 54 Page ID
#:256
1 II intermediary who handled but did not retain the property in the
2 II course of the money laundering offense unless the defendant, in
3 II committing the offense giving rise to the forfeiture, conducted three
4 llor more separate transactions involving a total of $100,000.00 or
5 II more in any twelve-month period.
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
TRACY L. WILKISON
Acting United States Attorney
SCOTT M. GARRINGER
Assistant United States Attorney
Chief, Criminal Division
RANEE A. KATZENSTEIN
Assistant United States Attorney
Chief, Major Frauds Section
JOSEPH BEEMSTERBOER
Chief, Fraud Section
United States Department of Justice
MONICA E. TAIT
Assistant United States Attorney
Deputy Chief, Major Frauds Section
KERRY L. QUINN
Assistant United States Attorney
Major Frauds Section
SCOTT ARMSTRONG
Trial Attorney, Fraud Section
United States Department of Justice
12
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 39 of 54 Page ID
#:257
EXHIBIT B
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 40 of 54 Page ID
#:258
1
EXHIBIT B TO PLEA AGREEMENT FOR DEFENDANT ANDREW MARNELL
2
STATEMENT OF FACTS SUPPORTING PLEA AGREEMENT
3
Defendant ANDREW MARNELL also known as ("aka") "Andrew
4 II Maxwell," aka "Andrew Merrill," aka "Tyler Lerman"
5 II ("defendant"), stipulates and agrees that he committed the
6
following criminal activity:
7
BACKGROUND
8 II
1.
At all relevant times, defendant was a resident of Los
9
Angeles, California, within the Central District of California.
10
2.
Defendant owned and controlled corporate entities
11
registered in various states under various names, including
12
Shale Creek LLC ("Shale Creek"), Slatestone LLC ("Slatestone"),
13
Quicksilver LLC ("Quicksilver"), xtracted LLC ("xtracted"),
14
Stratrock Ventures LLC ("Stratrock"), and East Bay Associates
15
LLC ("East Bay Associates") (collectively, the "defendant-
16
controlled entities").
17
The Paycheck Protection Program
18
3.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security
19
("CARES") Act was a federal law enacted in or around March 2020
20
and designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the
21
millions of Americans who were suffering the economic effects
22
caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
One source of relief provided
23
by the CARES Act was the authorization of up to $349 billion in
24
forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and
25
certain other expenses, through a program referred to as the
2 6
Paycheck Protection Program (" PPP") .
In or around April 2 02 0,
27
Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.
28
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 41 of 54 Page ID
#:259
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
4.
In order to obtain a PPP loan, a qualifying business
was required to submit a PPP loan application signed by an
authorized representative of the business.
The PPP loan
application required the business (through its authorized
representative) to acknowledge the program rules and make
certain affirmative certifications in order to be eligible to
obtain the PPP loan.
In the PPP loan application, the applicant
(through its authorized representative) was required to state,
among other things, its: (a) average monthly payroll expenses;
and (b) number of employees.
These figures were used to
calculate the amount of money the small business was eligible to
receive under the PPP.
In addition, the applicant was required
to provide documentation showing its payroll expenses.
5.
A business's PPP loan application was received and
15
processed, in the first instance, by a participating lender.
If
16
a PPP loan application was approved, the participating lender
17
funded the PPP loan using its own monies.
Data from the
18
application, including information about the borrower, the total
19
amount of the loan, and the listed number of employees, was
20
transmitted by the lender to the Small Business Administration
21
22
("SBA") in the course of processing the loan.
6.
PPP loan proceeds were required to be used by the
23
business on certain permissible expenses:
payroll costs,
24
interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities.
The PPP allowed the
25
interest and principal on the PPP loan to be entirely forgiven
26
if the business spent the loan proceeds on these expense items
27
within a designated period of time after receiving the proceeds
28
2
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 42 of 54 Page ID
#:260
1
and used a certain amount of the PPP loan proceeds on payroll
2
expenses.
3
The Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program
4 II
7.
The Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program ("EID L") was
5 llan SBA program that provided low-interest financing to small
6
businesses, renters, and homeowners in regions affected by
7
declared disasters.
8
8.
The CARES Act authorized the SBA to provide EIDL loans
9
of up to $2 million to eligible small businesses experiencing
10
substantial financial disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
11
9.
To obtain an EIDL loan, a qualifying business was
12
required to submit an application to the SBA and provide
13
information about the business's operations, such as the number
14
of employees, gross revenues for the 12-month period preceding
15
the disaster, and cost of goods sold in the 12-month period
16
preceding the disaster.
In the case of EIDL loans for COVID-19
17
relief, the 12-month period was the 12-month period from January
18
31, 2019, to January 31, 2020.
The applicant was also required
19
to certify that all of the information in the application was
20
true and correct to the best of the applicant's knowledge.
21
10.
EIDL loan applications were submitted directly to the
22
SBA and processed by the agency with support from a government
23
contractor.
The amount of the loan, if the application was
24
approved, was determined based, in part, on the information
25
provided by the applicant about employment, revenue, and cost of
26
goods sold, as described in paragraph 9 above.
Any funds issued
27
under an EIDL loan were issued directly by the SBA.
28
3
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 43 of 54 Page ID
#:261
1
11.
EIDL loan funds could be used for payroll expenses,
2
sick leave, production costs, and business obligations, such as
3
debts, rent, and mortgage payments.
If the applicant also
4
obtained a loan under the PPP, the EIDL loan funds could not be
5
used for the same purpose as the PPP loan funds.
6
Financial Institutions
7
12.
"Lender A" was a federally-insured financial
8
institution based in Texas that was an approved SBA lender of
9
PPP loans.
10
13.
"Lender B" was a non-bank lender based in New York,
11
New York that was an approved SBA lender of PPP loans.
12
14.
"Lender C" was a non-bank lender based in San
13
Francisco, California that was an approved SBA lender of PPP
14
loans.
15
15.
"Lender D" was a federally-insured financial
16
institution based in Reading, Pennsylvania that was an approved
17
SBA lender of PPP loans.
18
16.
"Lender E" was a non-bank lender based in Atlanta,
19
Georgia that was an approved SBA lender of PPP loans.
20
17.
Casino 1 was a casino and gaming establishment with an
21
annual gaming revenue of more than $1,000,000 and was licensed
22
under the laws of the State of Nevada, and qualified as a
23
"financial institution" for the purpose of 31 U.S.C. § 5312 and
24
18 u.s.c. § 1957.
25
Bank Accounts Controlled by Defendant
26
18.
Bank A was a financial institution based in San
27
Francisco, California.
28
4
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 44 of 54 Page ID
#:262
1
19.
Defendant controlled and was a signatory to multiple
2
accounts at an affiliate of Bank A, which was a broker
3
registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
4
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. § 78a et seq.), and
5
which qualified as a "financial institution" for the purpose of
6
31 U.S.C. § 5312 and 18 U.S.C. § 1957.
Among the accounts that
7
defendant controlled at the Bank A affiliate was an individual
8
brokerage account in the name of "Andrew Justin Marnell,"
9
account number ending in 2627 (the "2 627 account") .
10 11 I.
BANK FRAUD SCHEME (COUNT 1)
11
20. Beginning in or about March 2020, and continuing until
12
on or about July 16, 2020, in Los Angeles County, within the
13
Central District of California, and elsewhere, defendant,
14
together with others known and unknown to the Grand Jury,
15
knowingly and with intent to defraud, devised, participated in,
16
executed, and attempted to execute a scheme to obtain moneys,
17
funds, credits, assets, and other property owned by and in the
18
custody and control of Lender A by means of materially false and
19
fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises, and the
20
concealment of material facts, in violation of 18 U.S.C.
21
§ 1344 (2) .
22
21.
The fraudulent scheme operated and was carried out, in
23
substance, as follows:
24
a.
Defendant submitted, and caused to be submitted,
25
false and fraudulent applications to Lender A for PPP loans
26
purportedly on behalf of the defendant-controlled entities
27
(collectively, the "PPP Applications to Lender A").
28
Specifically:
5
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 45 of 54 Page ID
#:263
1
i. On or about April 14, 2020, defendant
2
submitted, and caused to be submitted, an application for a PPP
3
loan in the amount of $439,000 for borrower Shale Creek, which
4
was represented to be a Montana-headquartered firm, owned and
5
controlled by "Tyler Lerman," having 26 employees and average
6
monthly payroll expenses of $175,600;
7
ii. On or about April 29, 2020, defendant
8
submitted, and caused to be submitted, an application for a PPP
9
loan in the amount of $1,341,700 for borrower Slatestone, which
10
was represented to be a Wyoming-headquartered firm, owned and
11
controlled by "Andrew Merrill," having 75 employees and average
12
monthly payroll expenses of $536,680; and
13
iii.
On or about May 11, 2020, defendant
14
submitted, and caused to be submitted, an application for a PPP
15
loan in the amount of $1,818,000 for borrower Quicksilver, which
16
was represented to be a Montana-headquartered firm, owned and
17
controlled by "Andrew Maxwell," having 129 employees and average
18
monthly payroll expenses of $727,200.
19
b.
Defendant submitted, and caused to be submitted,
20
false documents and information to Lender A to obtain and to try
21
to obtain PPP loans in the names of the defendant-controlled
22
entities, including the following:
23
i. A false identification document concerning the
24
ownership and control of Quicksilver, namely, a photograph of a
25
fake United States passport in the name of "Andrew Maxwell,"
26
with defendant's picture;
27
ii. False Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") Form
28
940 tax forms for Shale Creek, Slatestone, and Quicksilver,
6
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 46 of 54 Page ID
#:264
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
purporting to be Employer's Annual Federal Unemployment Tax Act
Returns filed with the IRS for those entities; and
iii. False payroll data and documentation for
Shale Creek, Slatestone, and Quicksilver, including documents
purporting to be payroll registers for 2019 and 2020, purporting
to show wages paid to employees of those entities.
c.
Defendant made, and caused to be made, false
statements in the PPP Applications to Lender A, which defendant
knew were false when he made them and caused them to be made.
For example:
i. Defendant falsely represented that the funds
sought through the PPP Applications to Lender A would be used to
pay payroll and other business expenses of the defendant
controlled entities, when, in fact, defendant intended to use
and did use the PPP loan proceeds to fund options and futures
trading activities, to engage in gambling and entertainment
activities, and to pay other personal expenses;
ii. Defendant falsely represented that "the
Applicant has not and will not receive another loan under the
Paycheck Protection Program," and that the applicant did not own
an y other business or have common management with any other
business, when, in fact, defendant intended to and did obtain
other loans under the Paycheck Protection Program for the
defendant-controlled entities and all the defendant-controlled
entities had common management; and
iii. Defendant falsely represented that "Tyler
Lerman," "Andrew Merrill," and "Andrew Maxwell" were the owners
7
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 47 of 54 Page ID
#:265
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
of the defendant-controlled entities, when, in fact, as
defendant then knew, he owned and controlled those entities.
d.
In reliance on defendant's materially false
statements and his concealment of material facts, Lender A
approved and funded the PPP loans sought by defendant in the
names of the defendant-controlled entities.
Specifically, on or
about the following dates, Lender A sent the following funding
wires:
i. On or about April 16, 2020, Lender A wired, via
ACH transfer, approximately $439,000 to an account ending 2842
at Interactive Brokers LLC, maintained in defendant's name;
ii. On or about May 11, 2020, Lender A wired, via
ACH transfer, approximately $1,341,700 to an account ending 2627
at Charles Schwab Inc., maintained in defendant's name; and
iii. On or about May 12, 2020, Lender A wired, via
ACH transfer, approximately $1,818,000 to an account ending 6279
at Live Oak Banking Company, which was a business account in
Quicksilver's name on which defendant was the sole signer.
e.
From on or about April 16, 2020, through on or
about July 16, 2020, in contravention of defendant's
representations to Lender A and PPP rules, defendant used PPP
loan proceeds from Lender A to, among other things, fund options
and futures trading activities, to engage in gambling and
entertainment activities, and to pay other personal expenses.
C.
EXECUTIONS OF THE SCHEME
22.
On or about the following dates, in Los Angeles
County, within the Central District of California, and
elsewhere, defendant committed and willfully caused others to
8
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 48 of 54 Page ID
#:266
1 II commit the following acts, each of which constituted an
2 II execution of the fraudulent scheme:
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
DATE
4114/2020
4/29/2020
5/11/2020
ACT
Submission of application to Lender
A for PPP loan in the name of Shale
Creek.
Submission of application to Lender
A for PPP loan in the name of
Slatestone.
Submission of application to Lender
A for PPP loan in the name of
Quicksilver.
I I I . MONEY LAUNDERING ( COUNT 2)
23.
Defendant also engaged in and willfully caused others
to engage in the transfer, in or affecting interstate commerce,
of funds by, through, or to a financial institution ("monetary
transactions") using the proceeds of his bank fraud scheme to
fund gambling activities, among other uses of criminal proceeds,
including the following monetary transaction:
On June 1, 2020,
in Los Angeles County, defendant caused a $150,000 wire transfer
from the 2726 account to Casino 1, which represented more than
$10,000 in proceeds of the $1,341,700 PPP loan that defendant
obtained from Lender A in the name of Slatestone.
At the time
of the monetary transaction, defendant knew that the $150,000
constituted, or was derived from, the proceeds he obtained from
his bank fraud scheme, described above.
Defendant understands
and acknowledges that the transfer of the $150,000 constituted
money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957.
IV.
WIRE FRAUD SCHEME (RELEVANT CONDUCT)
24.
Defendant also agrees that he engaged in the following
related criminal conduct during and in prep aration for the bank
fraud scheme described above and that the bank fraud scheme and
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 49 of 54 Page ID
#:267
1
wire fraud scheme described below and the conduct involved in
2
both schemes were part of the same course of conduct and a
3
common scheme or plan, and are relevant conduct under United
4
States Sentencing Guideline lBl.3.
5
6
A.
THE SCHEME TO DEFRAUD
25.
Beginning in or about March 2020, and continuing until
7
in or about July 2020, in Los Angeles County, defendant
8
knowingly and with intent to defraud, devised, participated in,
9
executed, and attempted to execute a scheme to defraud Lenders
10
A, B, C, D, and E and the SBA as to material matters, and to
11
obtain moneys, funds, assets, and other property owned by and in
12
the custody and control of Lenders A, B, C, D, and E and the SBA
13
by means of material false and fraudulent pretenses,
14
representations, and promises, and the concealment of material
15
facts.
16
26.
The fraudulent scheme operated and was carried out, in
17
substance, as follows:
18
a.
Defendant submitted false and fraudulent
19
applications to Lenders A, B, C, D, and E and to the SBA for PPP
20
and EIDL loans purportedly on behalf of the defendant-controlled
21
entities.
22
b.
Defendant submitted false documents and
23
information to Lenders A, B, C, D and E and to the SBA to obtain
24
and to try to obtain PPP and EIDL loans in the names of the
25
defendant-controlled entities, including the submission of false
26
identification documents, false Internal Revenue Service ("IRS")
27
tax forms, and false payroll data and documentation.
28
10
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 50 of 54 Page ID
#:268
1
c.
Defendant made, and caused to be made, materially
2
false and fraudulent statements in the applications for PPP and
3
EIDL loans, which defendant knew were false and fraudulent when
4
he made them and caused them to be made, including the
5
following:
6
i. Defendant knowingly submitted fake payroll
7 II documentation, fake identification documents, and fake IRS tax
8
forms as supporting documentation to obtain PPP and EIDL loans.
9
ii. Defendant falsely represented that the funds
10
sought through the applications for PPP and EIDL loans would be
11
used to pay payroll and other business expenses of the
12
defendant-controlled entities, when, in fact, defendant intended
13
to use and did use the loan proceeds to fund options and futures
14
trading activities, to engage in gambling and entertainment
15
activities, and to pay other personal expenses;
16
iii. Defendant falsely represented in PPP loan
17
applications that "the Applicant has not and will not receive
18
another loan under the Paycheck P rotection Program," and that
19
the applicant did not own any other business or have common
20
management with any other business, when, in fact, defendant
21
intended to and did obtain other loans under the Paycheck
22
Protection Program for the defendant-controlled entities and all
23
the defendant-controlled entities had common management; and
24
iv. Defendant falsely represented that "Tyler
25
Lerman," "Andrew Merrill," "Andrew Maxwell," and defendant's
26
husband, S.R., were the owners of the defendant-controlled
27
entities, when, in fact, as defendant then knew, he owned and
28
controlled those entities.
11
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 51 of 54 Page ID
#:269
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
d.
In reliance on defendant's materially false
statements and his concealment of material facts, Lenders A, B,
C, and D and the SBA approved and funded PPP and EIDL loans
sought by defendant in the names of the defendant-controlled
entities.
27.
The PPP loans that that defendant obtained or
attempted to obtain as part of the fraudulent scheme included
the following:
Lende
Borrower
Listed
Requested
Funded
Amount Still
r
Princip
Loan
Amount
Outstanding
al
Amount/
(Restitution)
Intended
Loss
Lende
Shale
Tyler
$439,000
$439,000
$439,000
r A
Creek
Lerman
Lende
Quicksilv
Andrew
$1,818,000
$1,818,000
$0
r A
er
Maxwell
Lende
Slateston
Andrew
$1,341,700
$1,341,700
$1,341,700
r A
e
Merrill
Lende
Quicksilv
Andrew
$1,842,929.
$1,842,929.
$1,842,929.17
r B
er
Maxwell
17
17
Lende
Stratrock
S.R.
$1,842,929.
$1,842,929.
$1,842,929.16
r B
16
16
Lende
East Bay
Andrew
$456,917
$352,500
$352,500
r C
Associate
Maxwell
s
Lende
Xtractd
Andrew
$1,352,318
$1,352,318
$1,352,318
r D
Marnell
Lende
Slates ton
Andrew
$1,301,050
$0
$0
r E
e
Merrill
Lende
East Bay
Andrew
Not
$0
$0
r E
Associate
Maxwell
Available
s
Lende
Quicksilv
Andrew
Not
$0
$0
r E
er
Merrill
Available
Total
$10,394,843
$8,989,376
$7,171,376.33
s
28.
Defendant also obtained and attempted to obtain EIDL
loans for defendant-controlled entities as part of the same
fraudulent scheme and based on similar misrepresentations as he
used to obtain and to attempt to obtain PPP loans, including
misrepresentations concerning the revenue of defendant-
12
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 52 of 54 Page ID
#:270
1 II controlled entities and the intended use of loan proceeds.
The
2 IIEIDL loans that defendant obtained as part of the scheme
3 II included the following:
4
5
6
7
8
9
Lender
SBA
SBA
Totals
Borrower
Listed
Principal
xtractd
I Andrew
Marnell
Slatestone I Andrew
Marnell
Requested
Loan
Amount/
Intended
Loss
$160,000
$160,000
$320,000
Funded
Amount
$160,000
$10,000
$170,000
Amount Still
Outstanding
(Restitution)
$160,000
$10,000
$170,000
10
11
12
29.
As set forth above, defendant purposefully sought to
13 II obtain $10,714,843 in fraudulent PPP and EIDL loans from Lenders
14 IIA through E and the SBA in connection with this fraud scheme,
15 II and he owes approximately $7,341,376.33 in restitution.
16
17
B.
USE OF THE WIRES
30.
As one example of the use of interstate wires to
18 II execute the fraudulent scheme, on or about May 11, 2020, in Los
19 II Angeles County, defendant caused Lender A to transfer $1,341,700
20 II via an interstate wire sent to the 2627 account, representing
21 II fraudulently-obtained PPP loan proceeds defendant had obtained
22 II from Lender A for borrower Slates tone.
23 II
Victim Impact & Other Sentencing Factors
24
31.
In total, defendant fraudulently sought more than
25 II $10.7 million in small business loans, ultimately causing actual
26 II losses of more than $7 million.
27
28
13
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 53 of 54 Page ID
#:271
1
32.
Defendant obtained more than $1,000,000 from a
2 II financial institution as part of the fraudulent scheme, because
3 llhe obtained more than $1 million from Lenders A, B, C, and D.
4
33.
Defendant admits and acknowledges that the scheme
5 II involved money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957,
6 II including the money laundering transaction charged in count two
7 llof the superseding information.
8
9
10
*
*
*
CERTIFICATION OF DEFENDANT
I have read this STATEMENT OF F ACTS IN SUPPORT OF PLEA
11 II AGREEMENT ("statement of facts") in its entirety.
I have had
12 II enough time to review and consider this statement of facts, and
13 11 I have carefully and thoroughly discussed every part of it with
14 II my attorney.
I agree that this statement of facts is accurate
15 11 and correct, and is sufficient to support p leas of guilty to the
16 II charges described in the plea agreement and to establish the
17 II Sentencing Guidelines factors set forth in paragraph 17 of the
18
19
20
21
22
plea agreement.
,Rlu
NDR:
-y,zW' MA{NELL
Defendant
Dat
CERTIFICATION OF DEFENDANT'S ATTORNEY
I am ANDREW MARNELL's attorney.
I have carefully and
23 !!thoroughly discussed every part of this statement of facts with
24
my client and agree that it is sufficient to support pleas of
25
guilty to the charges described in the plea agreement and to
26
establish the Sentencing Guidelines factors set forth in
27
paragraph 17 of the plea agreement.
28
14
9/3/21
Case 2:20-cr-00319-RGK Document 38 Filed 09/07/21 Page 54 of 54 Page ID
#:272File and source
- File
- gov.uscourts.cacd.790198.38.0.pdf
- Size
- 1,842,169 bytes
- SHA-256
- 4ced7b170f3dec10ba4aba9506fba7d1a389ec8e3e9b53b504f859b8dc9837cc
- Original
- PACER (login required)