Quarterly Report to the United States Congress: October to December 2023 (2023-11-07)
Summary
The Office of the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery's fifteenth Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, covering October to December 2023. In the message from Special Inspector General Brian D. Miller, SIGPR states that the actual Main Street Lending Program loan loss figure has increased to $564 million as of December 31, 2023, and asks for a five-year extension beyond its March 2025 sunset date. The audits section says Treasury made direct loans to 35 businesses, that 10 of these 35 loans were in default as of January 1, 2024, and that the total outstanding loan amount for the loans in default is over $636 million. The investigations section reports 208 hotline complaints received from October 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023.
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- Report
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- 2023-11-07
Cite this document
“Quarterly Report to the United States Congress: October to December 2023 (2023-11-07).”
Original at www.sigpr.gov, dated 2023-11-07. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2023-11-07-quarterly-report-to-the-united-states-congress-october-to-december-2023/
, SHA-256 07306d8047c1b08720c29f5545f1bd8b1aacb43e43c533eb046db26b0e312fc6.Full text
OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR PANDEMIC RECOVERY Quarterly Report to the United States Congress October to December 2023 i SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL | PANDEMIC RECOVERY MESSAGE FROM THE SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR PANDEMIC RECOVERY I am pleased to present our fifteenth Quarterly Report to Congress. During this reporting period, the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR) has issued our fourth interim report based on Main Street Lending Program (MSLP) loan information received as part of subpoena requests to the lender banks. These banks reported over $1 billion in loans that were either in default, impaired, had delinquent interest payments, or were loans where the borrower made material misrepresentations during the loan process. Our November 7, 2023, interim report notes that approximately half of the $164 million in MSLP loan losses are associated with loans that have been under investigation for alleged fraud. SIGPR will continue to monitor this situation as the actual loan loss figure has increased to $564 million as of December 31, 2023. In addition, we are currently conducting a significant number of investigations within SIGPR’s jurisdiction, as well as continuing to enhance other pandemic oversight efforts through our active participation in the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee’s Fraud Task Force. Unlike many agencies that work primarily on cases referred to them, SIGPR has focused most of its efforts on developing its own leads for cases. Ninety one percent of matters currently under investigation under its statutory authority at SIGPR came from self-generated leads, and those investigations involve potential fraud arising from more than $388 million in CARES Act funds. This quarter SIGPR’s investigations resulted in an individual being sentenced for bank fraud and money laundering associated to loans obtained through the MSLP and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds for unauthorized purposes and for their own personal enrichment. I want to thank the auditors, special agents, attorneys, and administrative staff of SIGPR, all of whom are professional public servants who share one goal—to protect the American people from fraud, waste, and abuse. As I have noted in previous correspondence and other communications with Congress, for this work to continue, we are asking for a five-year extension beyond our March 2025 sunset date. We need this time to see our investigations through to completion. Most loans within our jurisdiction mature in 2025; should defaults then occur, without an extension SIGPR will sunset just when we are most needed. We at SIGPR will continue our mission and look forward to working with you in the future. Very respectfully, Brian D. Miller Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery REPORT TO CONGRESS | OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2023 ii PROFILE ABOUT SIGPR is an independent organization within Treasury whose mission is to promote the economy, efficiency, effectiveness, and integrity of CARES Act funds and programs. SIGPR was established by section 4018 of the CARES Act with duties, responsibilities, and authority under the Inspector General Act of 1978. STAFFING AND BUDGET SIGPR has 38 employees on board. We continue to be judicious in the execution of our budget in support of the SIGPR mission. CONTENTS SIGPR OVERSIGHT Audits 1 Investigations 5 FINDINGS AND DEVELOPMENTS Direct Loans and Other Investments 11 1 SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL | PANDEMIC RECOVERY SECTION 1 SIGPR OVERSIGHT SIGPR employs proactive efforts to detect and investigate fraud, waste, and abuse involving CARES Act funds and programs within SIGPR’s jurisdiction. Below is a summary of SIGPR’s activities during the reporting period: Audits The Office of Audits conducts audits and evaluations of loans and other investments made by Treasury under programs within SIGPR’s jurisdiction.1 Engagements During this quarter, the Office of Audits worked on two engagements related to the Direct Loan Program and one audit of Treasury’s Investment in the Main Street Lending Program. The Direct Loan Program was established under section 4003 of the CARES Act and authorized Treasury to provide loans, loan guarantees, and other investments to passenger air carriers and related businesses, cargo air carriers, and businesses critical to maintaining national security. Treasury made direct loans to 35 such businesses, providing them with liquidity to withstand losses incurred as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. As of January 1, 2024, 10 of these 35 loans were in default.2 These defaults include 2 borrowers who have filed for bankruptcy. The total outstanding loan amount for the loans in default is over $636 million.3 The Main Street Lending Program (MSLP) supported lending to small and medium-sized for-profit businesses and nonprofit organizations that were in sound financial condition before the onset of the 1 See CARES Act § 4018(c)(1) 2 Borrowers whose direct loans are currently in default are Aero Hydraulics, Inc.; Caribbean Sun Airlines, Inc.; Elite Airways, LLC; Island Wings, Inc.; Legacy Airways, LLC; Meridian Rapid Defense Group, LLC; oVio Technologies, Inc.; Timco Engine Center, Inc.; Visual Semantics, Inc.; and Yellow Corporation. 3 A single borrower, Yellow Corporation, owes approximately $597 million of this total. SIGPR OVERSIGHT REPORT TO CONGRESS | OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2023 2 pandemic. The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, which manages the program, set up a Special Purpose Vehicle to purchase 95 percent of participations in MSLP loans from lender banks. These purchases were backed by a $16.6 billion equity investment by Treasury. Limited Scope Review of Yellow Corporation’s Executive Compensation On August 16, 2023, SIGPR issued a subpoena to Yellow Corporation (Yellow) as part of a limited scope review of Yellow’s compliance with Section 12.05 – Limitations on Certain Compensations, as found within its $700 million loan agreement with Treasury. On July 30, 2023, Treasury received information from Yellow’s financial advisor that Yellow paid over $8 million in compensation to certain corporate officers and employees, including a $3.35 million retention payment to Yellow’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO). On August 4, 2023, Treasury issued a Notice of Noncompliance to Yellow to address the situation. Yellow responded to Treasury on August 10, 2023, that the CEO voluntarily returned the $3.35 million. While Yellow did not make any other self- disclosures regarding any other violations of their loan agreement, SIGPR has the obligation to further investigate the self-disclosure they did provide. We have held meetings with Yellow’s outside counsel and received all documents requested in the subpoena. We are currently analyzing the provided documentation for any additional violations of Section 12.05 of the loan agreement. Audit of Direct Loan Program Borrower – MapLarge, Inc. MapLarge, Inc. (MapLarge) received a $10 million direct loan from Treasury pursuant to section 4003(b)(3) of the CARES Act. The loan agreement includes covenants by MapLarge to comply with certain restrictions on employee compensation, stock repurchases, dividends, and other areas as required by the CARES Act. We are performing the audit to ensure the terms of the loan agreements between MapLarge and Treasury are being met. During the course of the audit, the audit team reviewed MapLarge’s responses to Salesforce review card questions that are designed to monitor compliance with the loan agreement and conducted a site visit to MapLarge’s headquarters to review supporting documentation and interview MapLarge officials. The audit team has also corresponded with Treasury officials to gain a better understanding of the nature and extent of guidance provided to borrowers. Audit of the Effects the Main Street Lending Program’s Loan Losses Have on Treasury’s Investment in the Program On November 7, 2023, SIGPR issued its fourth interim report on Main Street Lending Program loan information received as part of a subpoena request to the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. The report is based on $164 million in actual loan losses declared by the Federal Reserve as of July 31, 2023. Our interim report notes that of all the loans that comprise the $164 million in actual MSLP loan losses, approximately half (49 percent) are under investigation for alleged fraud. The amount of actual Main Street Lending Program loan losses continues to increase ($564 million as of December 31, 2023), and more initial 15 percent principal payments become due in December 2023. The following chart shows how Main Street Lending Program losses have increased as SIGPR’s full-time employee count has dropped approaching its sunset date. SIGPR OVERSIGHT 3 SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL | PANDEMIC RECOVERY Main Street Lending Program Loan Losses Increasing as SIGPR Approaches its Sunset The office tasked with auditing and investigating these loans is reducing employees at the same time the losses are skyrocketing. We are only in the first of three periods of principal repayment for the loans. The largest principal payments are not due until after SIGPR is scheduled to sunset. This highlights the need to extend SIGPR beyond its March 2025 sunset date. Data Analytics The Office of Audits data analytics program plays an important role in SIGPR’s mission. The data analytics platform uses various software and tools that process and analyze large quantities of data to detect potential red flags and anomalies. These tools are valuable not only for SIGPR’s audit work, but also for other proactive initiatives throughout SIGPR. The program has developed a data library containing over 150 million rows of CARES Act funding information, drawn from both public and sensitive government sources. The program updates the library at least quarterly to maintain accurate and relevant information. The data analytics program: • Maintains complex risk assessment metrics by creating analytics that identify audit red flags; • Harmonizes, cleanses, normalizes, and joins relevant data tables; • Maintains a growing library of data tables that provide information and support the detection of irregularities; • Creates interactive dashboards and visualizations to assist users in better understanding and prioritizing program areas for audits, investigations, and evaluations; • Shares analytic methodologies and processes with various external government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, U.S. Agency for International Development Office of Inspector General, Pandemic Response Accountability SIGPR OVERSIGHT REPORT TO CONGRESS | OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2023 4 Committee (PRAC), Department of Health and Human Services, Amtrak, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Department of Education Office of Inspector General, Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, General Services Administration Office of Inspector General, Treasury’s Office of the Chief Data Officer, and others; • Collaborates with various inter-governmental agencies, committees, and third-party vendors to stay informed about emerging analytic technologies, techniques, tools, and methodologies; and • Continues to work closely with CIGIE’s Pandemic Analytics Center of Excellence’s data sharing program and analytics effort in mining data for the benefit of many government agencies and Offices of Inspector General. SIGPR OVERSIGHT 5 SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL | PANDEMIC RECOVERY Investigations The Office of Investigations (OI) conducts criminal and civil investigations regarding allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, or misconduct involving CARES Act funds and programs within SIGPR’s jurisdiction. In addition, OI manages SIGPR’s hotline, which serves as a primary avenue for reporting fraud, waste, abuse, or misconduct. Investigative Activities OI routinely collaborates with the entire SIGPR team, including auditors, analysts, and attorneys to vet complaints, develop proactive initiatives, and pursue investigations. SIGPR’s investigations are conducted in partnership with various U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Additionally, OI continues its partnership building efforts with other law enforcement agencies. OI participates in task forces and working groups throughout the federal law enforcement and Inspector General communities, including the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee’s (PRAC) Task Force, DOJ COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, and the DOJ COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Forces. OI’s Historical Accomplishments (January 2021 – present) As a result of statutory authority challenges to hire criminal investigators (1811 series), imposed by Department of Treasury, SIGPR’s first 1811 was not onboarded until late December 2020, six months after Brian Miller was appointed as the IG. Three more 1811s came on in January and February 2021. Ultimately, OI was able to move ahead by hiring a highly skilled staff that has been very productive in what has been only three full years of operation. Just a few of the successes are highlighted below: • OI has opened a total of 72 cases, of which 49 remain pending, with at least 130 potential defendants. • 94% of OI’s investigations involve a combination of MSLP, Payroll Protection Program, and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program fraud (multi-dippers). • OI’s investigations have resulted in 21 federal indictments, 21 arrests, four guilty pleas, and four sentencings which have generated more than $11.9 million in court ordered restitution, $9.8 million in seizure/forfeiture orders, and $350,000 in a civil settlement. • OI’s investigations also caused $20.8 million in MSLP loans to be repaid, as a result of notification of an investigation. • Recently, multiple arrests were made in connection with a complex fraud scheme representing over $52 million in alleged fraud. • Two defendants were recently sentenced to a total of 6 years in prison and ordered to pay over $7.6 million in court ordered restitution. SIGPR OVERSIGHT REPORT TO CONGRESS | OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2023 6 • Last Spring, an individual was sentenced to more than 7 years in prison and ordered to pay over $2.6 million in court ordered restitution. • Most recently, a woman was sentenced to serve 20 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $252 thousand in restitution for bank fraud and money laundering violations related to a MSLP loan. Current Report Period During this reporting period, the office continued its investigative and proactive efforts to uncover and vigorously pursue fraud and wrongdoing related to CARES Act funding under Title IV, Subtitle A. The following table highlights SIGPR’s investigative activity as it relates to the various CARES Act programs. SIGPR Investigative Activity – October 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023 Hotline Complaints Hotline Complaints Received 208 Referrals to Other Agencies 28 Preliminary Inquiries Opened 6 Closed 0 Converted to Full Investigation 5 Ongoing 7 Investigations* Opened 6 Closed 1 Ongoing 42 Criminal Actions † Referrals to the Department of Justice 5 Referrals to State/Local Prosecuting Authorities 0 Indictments/Informations 0 Arrests/Summons 0 Convictions/Pleas 0 Sentencings 1 Civil Actions † Referrals to the Department of Justice 1 Civil Judgments/Settlements 0 Other Enforcement Actions IG Subpoenas Issued 11 Suspension/Debarment Recommendations 2 Administrative Suspension 0 Administrative Debarment 0 Investigative Monetary Results † Funds Seized/Forfeitures** 252,143 Restitution Ordered 252,143 Fines and Penalties 0 SIGPR OVERSIGHT 7 SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL | PANDEMIC RECOVERY Civil Judgments/Settlements 0 Recoveries*** 0 * Includes all SIGPR program-related cases, including PRAC Fraud Task Force investigations and joint investigations with other agencies. † Includes all SIGPR actions reported, including those resulting from PRAC Fraud Task Force investigations and joint investigations with other agencies. ** Includes statistical information not captured in past reporting periods. *** Includes MSLP funds repaid following notification of an investigation. Casework Highlights Throughout the first quarter of fiscal year 2024, OI continued to expand its investigative oversight work through SIGPR’s collaborative and proactive efforts as exhibited below. FORMER EDMONDS RESIDENT SENTENCED TO SERVE 20 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR FRAUD ON MAIN STREET LENDING PROGRAM CREATED IN RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC In November 2023, a woman, formerly of Edmond, Oklahoma, was sentenced to serve 20 months in federal prison and pay more than $252 thousand in restitution. The woman committed bank fraud and money laundering related to a loan obtained through the MSLP, a lending facility established by the Federal Reserve Board and supported with funding authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). In January 2022, the woman was charged by a criminal information. The woman executed a loan agreement falsely representing on how she would use MSLP funds for working capital and payroll only. The individual also falsely represented she would not make financial distributions to herself as the owner of the company. The criminal information further alleged that the individual laundered the loan proceeds by using them to pay for construction of a personal home. Other loan funds were used to purchase a luxury SUV for personal use. https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdok/pr/former-edmond- resident-sentenced-serve-20-months-federal-prison-fraud-main-street Suspension and Debarment Activity Suspension or debarment of an organization or individual excludes that company or individual from doing business with the Federal Government. These exclusions are intended to ensure that only responsible companies or individuals participate in contracts and financial assistance awards with the Federal Government. A suspension temporarily disqualifies the entity; a debarment disqualifies the entity for a fixed period. SIGPR has a suspension and debarment referral process when there are indicating acts, events, or conditions that could serve as the basis for suspension or debarment of a business or individual. This referral process is used for the purpose of protecting the interests of the government, and not for punishment. SIGPR’s process involves sending a formal memorandum to Treasury’s Suspension and Debarment Office (SDO) for consideration. Currently, SIGPR has forwarded 22 referrals to SDO, seven are in suspension, while the remaining referrals are being considered for action. SIGPR OVERSIGHT REPORT TO CONGRESS | OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2023 8 Recognition Of SIGPR’s Casework 26th Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) Annual Awards Ceremony On November 7, 2023, the 26th CIGIE Annual Award Ceremony was held at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC. The event was in celebration of the very best of work conducted by the dedicated men and women of the Inspector General community in all disciplines. An Award for Excellence (team award) was presented for the TEC Ventures LLC investigation. The team was recognized for outstanding collaboration by a multidisciplinary investigative team of forensic accountants, investigators, and attorneys resulting in the prosecution of Daniel Tisone. The investigative team consisted of: Trenton Reichling, Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) MDFL, Suzanne Nebesky, AUSA MDFL, Julie Simonsen, AUSA MDFL, Grace Bruno, FBI, Rogelio De Se Sedas, SIGPR, Peter Gabrielli, SIGPR, Jack Hanly, SIGPR, Christopher Hall, IRS-CI, Megan Heister, FBI, Barry McKinley, MDFL. https://www.ignet.gov/sites/default/files/files/CIGIE2023AwardBooklet_508-compliancex.pdf Brian Miller, Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery recognized SIGPR employees with CIGIE Awards for Excellence In December 2023, Inspector General Brain Miller recognized SIGPR employees for their contribution in the TEC Ventures LLC investigation. Employees Rogelio De Se Sedas, Jack Hanly, and Peter Gabrielli (former) were recognized with individual awards. The team Award for Excellence was in recognition for their outstanding collaboration with in a multidisciplinary investigative team of forensic accountants, investigators, and attorneys resulting in the prosecution of Daniel Tisone. The remaining FBI, DOJ, and IRS CI team members will be recognized at a later date. SIGPR OVERSIGHT 9 SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL | PANDEMIC RECOVERY PRAC Fraud Task Force In January 2021, the PRAC established a Fraud Task Force to serve as a resource for the Inspector General (IG) community by surging investigative resources into the areas of greatest need. The PRAC Fraud Task Force brings together agents from 16 Inspectors General to investigate fraud involving a variety of programs, including the Paycheck Protection Program. Task force agents who are detailed to the PRAC receive expanded authority to investigate pandemic fraud as well as tools and training to support their investigations. These agents have partnered with prosecutors at DOJ’s Fraud Section and at United States Attorneys’ Offices across the country. Due to the large scale of CARES Act related fraud, the PRAC extended its authority to SIGPR to investigate additional pandemic-related fraud through a Memorandum of Understanding. Currently, SIGPR has five special agents assigned to the PRAC Fraud Task Force on a part-time basis. These special agents are assigned CARES Act (PPP/EIDL/UI) related cases while continuing to work their SIGPR investigative caseloads (MSLP/Direct Loans). This initiative allows SIGPR to make a broader contribution to the IG community by assisting with a range of critical investigations that might otherwise remain unstaffed. https://www.pandemicoversight.gov/ PUBLIC LAW 117–348—JAN. 5, 2023 ‘‘Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2022’’ In compliance with the reporting requirements to Congress by this law, the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery had no reportable activity relating to complaints of human trafficking or any related investigations. SIGPR Hotline Activity The SIGPR hotline accepts reports of potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement related to CARES Act funding, programs, and personnel. The hotline also accepts whistleblower complaints from federal employees, former federal employees, employment applicants, employees of contractors, subcontractors, grantees and subgrantees, and personal service contractors who wish to report fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, or reprisal actions under the jurisdiction of SIGPR. During this reporting period, SIGPR received 208 hotline complaints, of which the majority pertained to matters outside SIGPR’s jurisdiction, as indicated in the table and chart below. SIGPR OVERSIGHT REPORT TO CONGRESS | OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2023 10 Complaints by Category Received October 2023 through December 2023 Category Total Title I – Paycheck Protection Program 10 Title IV, Subtitle A — Loans and Investments 2 Title IV, Subtitle A — (13(3) Facilities (MSLP) 2 Title IV, Subtitle B — Payroll Support Program 1 Title V – Coronavirus Relief Fund 3 Multiple CARES Act Programs 4 Economic Impact Payments 3 Unemployment Insurance Programs 7 Rental and Housing Assistance Programs 6 Emergency Income Disaster Loans 1 Income Tax Related 2 Social Security Benefits 95 Financial Institution Related 3 Non-Program Related 69 Grand Total 208 11 SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL | PANDEMIC RECOVERY SECTION 2 FINDINGS AND DEVELOPMENTS The CARES Act requires SIGPR to regularly report “a detailed statement of all loans, loan guarantees, other transactions, obligations, expenditures, and revenues associated with any program established by the Secretary under section 4003, as well as the information collected under subsection (c)(1).”4 Accordingly, below are the categories of loans and other investments made by Treasury under CARES Act section 4003,5 including, where applicable and known, a list of the loans and investments made under each category and the eligible businesses to which loans were made. Direct Loans and Other Investments Introduction CARES Act section 4003(a) authorized the Secretary of the Treasury “to make loans, loan guarantees, and other investments in support of eligible businesses, States, and municipalities that do not, in the aggregate, exceed $500,000,000,000.” The CARES Act further divided these loans and investments into four categories. The first three, described in sections 4003(b)(1)–(3), cover loans and loan guarantees to passenger air carriers and related businesses ($25 billion), cargo air carriers ($4 billion), 4 CARES Act § 4018(f)(1)(B) 5 Treasury did not establish a program for “loan guarantees” under CARES Act section 4003. FINDINGS AND DEVELOPMENTS REPORT TO CONGRESS | OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2023 12 and businesses critical to maintaining national security ($17 billion).6 The fourth category, described in section 4003(b)(4), authorized the Secretary to invest in various liquidity programs established by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System under section 13(3) of the Federal Reserve Act ($454 billion). The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, amended the CARES Act to rescind unobligated balances of funds ($429 billion) in these programs.7 It also specified that after December 31, 2020, the Federal Reserve “shall not make any loan, purchase any obligation, asset, security, or other interest, or make any extension of credit” through the liquidity programs or facilities in which Treasury had invested CARES Act funds, except for facilities in the MSLP, that were authorized to purchase loans until January 8, 2021, for applications submitted by December 14, 2020.8 Direct Loans On March 30, 2020, Treasury first announced guidelines for businesses interested in applying for loans under CARES Act section 4003(b)(1)–(3).9 Those guidelines incorporated several mandatory loan terms and conditions, with many designed to protect American taxpayers. A summary of these terms and conditions can be accessed in SIGPR’s previous quarterly reports. Air Carrier Loan Program CARES Act section 4003(b)(1)–(2) allocated $25 billion for loans and loan guarantees to passenger air carriers, aviation-maintenance facilities certified under 14 C.F.R. Part 145, and air-transportation ticket agents, as well as $4 billion for cargo air carriers. National Security Loan Program CARES Act section 4003(b)(3) allocated $17 billion for loans and loan guarantees to “businesses critical to maintaining national security.” The report excerpts on the following pages summarize the section 4003(b)(1) – (3) loans current through this quarter.10 6 Treasury has posted on its website the contracts it has entered in connection with the administration of loans under section 4003(b)(1), (2), and (3). See U.S. Department of the Treasury, Other Programs, https://home.treasury.gov/data/other-programs 7 See Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Pub. L. 116-260, div. N §§ 1003, 1005 8 Id. § 1005. 9 U.S. Department of the Treasury, Procedures and Minimum Requirements for Loans to Air Carriers and Eligible Businesses and National Security Businesses under Division A, Title IV, Subtitle A of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Mar. 30, 2020), https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/Procedures and Minimum Requirements for Loans.pdf., 10 See U.S. Department of the Treasury, Report Under Section 4026(b)(1)(C) of the CARES Act on Loans to Air Carriers, Eligible Businesses, and National Security Businesses (Jan. 1, 2024) 4026b1CLoanReport010124.pdf (treasury.gov); see also U.S. Department of the Treasury, Loans to Air Carriers, Eligible Businesses, and National Security Businesses, Loans to Air Carriers, Eligible Businesses, and National Security Businesses | U.S. Department of the Treasury (last updated Jan. 21, 2021). FINDINGS AND DEVELOPMENTS 13 SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL | PANDEMIC RECOVERY FINDINGS AND DEVELOPMENTS REPORT TO CONGRESS | OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2023 14 FINDINGS AND DEVELOPMENTS 15 SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL | PANDEMIC RECOVERY FINDINGS AND DEVELOPMENTS REPORT TO CONGRESS | OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2023 16 Other Investments CARES Act section 4003(b)(4) allocated at least $454 billion for “loans and loan guarantees to, and other investments in, programs or facilities established by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for the purpose of providing liquidity to the financial system that supports lending to eligible businesses, States, or municipalities” by “purchasing obligations or other interests” directly from the issuer or through secondary markets, and “making loans, including loans or other advances secured by collateral.”11 The Federal Reserve established several liquidity programs (facilities) pursuant to section 13(3) of the Federal Reserve Act.12 That provision, used extensively during the 2008 financial crisis and amended by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act,13 allows the Federal Reserve to lend money in “unusual and exigent circumstances” to participants in “any program or facility with broad- based eligibility” who are “unable to secure adequate credit accommodations from other banking institutions.”14 The Federal Reserve Board was required to consult with the Secretary of the Treasury prior to the Federal Reserve Board’s 2015 issuance of its regulations governing emergency lending under section 13(3) of the Federal Reserve Act.15 The Federal Reserve may not establish any emergency lending program under section 13(3) without prior approval of the Secretary of the Treasury.16 Of note, as of December 31, 2023, MS Facilities, LLC—a special-purpose vehicle (SPV) jointly formed by Treasury and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston to operate the MSLP—has recognized approximately $564 million in actual loan losses, net of subsequent recoveries.17 This number has more than doubled from $257 million since SIGPR’s last quarterly report, and is over $500 million in estimated loan losses for calendar year 2023 alone. In addition, an evaluation of loan participations purchased by the MS Facilities, LLC resulted in a reported loan loss allowance in the amount of $820 million.18 The allowance for loan losses is estimated based upon MS Facilities, LLC’s holdings as of September 30, 2023.19 These facilities have stopped extending loans or purchasing obligations. Additional details for the facilities are available on the Federal Reserve’s website.20 The Federal Reserve has indicated that because the MSLP ceased purchasing participations on January 8, 2021, it will not provide additional transaction- specific disclosures about the MSLP on a periodic basis going forward. 11 CARES Act § 4003(b)(4)(A)–(C) 12 See 12 U.S.C. § 343(3) 13 Pub. L. 111-203, 124 Stat. 1375 14 12 U.S.C. § 343(3)(A); see also 12 C.F.R. § 201.4(d) 15 12 U.S.C. § 343(3)(B)(i) 16 12 U.S.C. § 343(3)(B)(iv) 17 See Bd. of Governors of the Fed. Reserve Sys., Periodic Report: Update on Outstanding Lending Facilities Authorized by the Board under Section 13(3) of the Federal Reserve Act. Section 13(3) Reports (federalreserve.gov) (Jan. 10, 2024) 18 See id. 19 See id. 20 See id. FINDINGS AND DEVELOPMENTS 17 SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL | PANDEMIC RECOVERY The following table summarizes the total amount of remaining CARES Act funds that Treasury invested in MS Facilities, LLC and other SPVs created in conjunction with other lending programs as of December 31, 2023.21 Recipient Treasury Investment Remaining as of Dec. 31, 2023 MS Facilities, LLC $7,976,892,373.63 TALF II, LLC $0.00 Corporate Credit Facilities, LLC $0.00 Municipal Liquidity Facility, LLC $0.00 The SPVs have returned the following amounts to Treasury as of December 31, 2023. Recipient Investment Returned to Treasury as of Dec. 31, 2023 MS Facilities, LLC $30,061,521,137.36 TALF II, LLC $10,047,592,763.45 Corporate Credit Facilities, LLC $37,980,215,713.55 Municipal Liquidity Facility, LLC $17,643,802,707.72 21 Letter from Michelle Dickerman, Deputy Assistant General Counsel, Office of General Counsel, Treasury, to Vincent Mulloy, Special Counsel, Office of General Counsel, SIGPR, Treasury (Jan. 29, 2024) (on file with SIGPR). HELP FIGHT FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE. BY EMAIL: hotline@sigpr.gov BY PHONE: 202-927-7899 www.sigpr.gov
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