Profiles · PrincipalsControversial
- Type
- Person
- Role
- Executive
- Programs
- PPP, EIDL
- Updated
The profile
A defendant who pleaded guilty in July 2023 to one count of bank fraud conspiracy in a multi-state PPP and EIDL fraud case in New Jersey. By July 16, 2026 his sentencing had been reset at least eight times, most recently to Aug. 25, 2026; no DOJ release reports a sentence.
Individuals whose conduct was challenged or called into question during or after the pandemic. See sources: DOJ charging release, July 19, 2023
Identity and role
Yasha Barjona was a co-defendant in a bank-fraud conspiracy prosecuted in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, alongside Eric Rivera, Lisa Smith, Sieff Robert Sargeant, Adrienne Ponzo, James Wessels, and William Ingram.
The scheme and pandemic-relief role
According to the FDIC Office of Inspector General's release and the July 2023 DOJ charging release , Barjona electronically signed fraudulent PPP and EIDL applications as part of the conspiracy, and Adrienne Ponzo and Lisa Smith prepared the applications for his businesses and for businesses controlled by his associates. The releases say Barjona and the associates received approximately $724,300 in PPP and EIDL proceeds and paid Eric Rivera kickbacks of approximately 50 percent of the loan amounts.
Legal status / controversies
- Charged: United States v. Barjona, No. 1:23-cr-00546 (D.N.J.) — bank fraud conspiracy, by information filed July 10, 2023.
- Pleaded guilty: July 10, 2023, to the one-count information, before U.S. District Judge Karen Williams, the same day the information was filed (plea PDF image-only); released on a $50,000 unsecured bond (docket).
- Forfeiture: consent judgment with a $227,330 money judgment in favor of the United States, signed the day of the plea (Dkt. 8, July 10, 2023; docket).
- Not yet sentenced: the docket shows sentencing repeatedly reset, most recently to Aug. 25, 2026.
Where they are now (2025–2026)
Sentencing was set for Aug. 25, 2026 on the docket as of July 16, 2026; no DOJ release reports a sentence.
Sources
- FDIC OIG, "Five Individuals Charged in Multi-State COVID-19 Relief Program [Fraud]": https://fdicoig.gov/news/investigations-press-releases/five-individuals-charged-multi-state-covid-19-relief-program local copy
- DOJ USAO-NJ, "Five Individuals Charged in Multi-State COVID-19 Relief Program Fraud Scheme" (July 19, 2023): 2023 07 19 Five Individuals Charged In Multi State Covid 19 Relief Program Fraud Sc 46964258 (original: justice.gov · stored capture)
- Local archive copy: 2023-07-19 five individuals charged in multi state covid-19-relief program fraud sc 46964258
- DOJ USAO-NJ, "Key Bank Agrees to Pay $7.7 Million to Resolve Branch Manager's Fraud" (Jan. 7, 2026): DOJ 2026 01 07 Keybank 7 7m Fca Settlement (original: justice.gov · stored capture)
- Local archive copy: DOJ 2026-01-07 KeyBank-7.7M FCA settlement
- Case filing (Information, filed July 10, 2023): CRIM NJD 1-23-cr-00546 US v Barjona doc1 INFO 2023-07-10
- Docket and filings, United States v. Barjona, No. 1:23-cr-00546 (D.N.J.), PACER materials retrieved July 16, 2026: barjona-1-23-cr-00546
- Plea agreement (Dkt. 5): gov.uscourts.njd.514724.5.0
- Consent judgment and order of forfeiture, $227,330 (Dkt. 8): gov.uscourts.njd.514724.8.0
- Indictment naming Barjona as a separately charged co-conspirator (Dkt. 23, United States v. Rivera, Ponzo & Wessels, No. 1:24-cr-00267): gov.uscourts.njd.546706.23.0
- Related profile: Lisa Smith
- Related profile: William Ingram
- Related profile: Sieff Robert Sargeant