Alexandria Man Pleads Guilty to $1.2M COVID Fraud Scheme (Press Release, November 1, 2023)

Summary

A press release of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, dated Wednesday, November 1, 2023, announcing that George Mensah, Jr. pleaded guilty to conspiring to fraudulently obtain PPP loans, unemployment insurance and other pandemic benefits. According to court documents, Mensah admitted that he and co-conspirators submitted over 47 PPP loan applications for fake businesses, at least 21 of which were funded, causing an actual loss of at least $583,172. Mensah also admitted obtaining at least $658,952 in fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance and pandemic benefits, using the personally identifiable information of others. Judge Rossie D. Alston, Jr. accepted the plea; sentencing is scheduled for February 14, 2024, in Case No. 1:23-cr-168.

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Full text

PRESS RELEASE



Alexandria Man Pleads Guilty to
$1.2M COVID Fraud Scheme
Wednesday, November 1, 2023

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Virginia

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Alexandria man pleaded guilty today to conspiring to fraudulently
obtain Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, unemployment insurance, and other
pandemic benefits.

According to court documents, from approximately October 2020 through September
2021, George Mensah, Jr., 32, conspired with others to prepare fraudulent PPP loans and
unemployment insurance claims under the CARES Act. Mensah admitted that he and his
coconspirators prepared and submitted over 47 applications for PPP loans for fake
businesses. At least 21 of these applications were funded by lenders, which caused an
actual loss of at least $583,172. In addition, Mensah admitted that he and his co-
conspirators obtained the personally identifiable information of others, including identity
theft victims, in order to make claims for pandemic unemployment benefits in Virginia
and elsewhere. Mensah admitted that he and his co-conspirators obtained at least
$658,952 in fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance and pandemic benefits.

Mensah is scheduled to be sentenced on February 14, 2024. He faces a maximum penalty
of 30 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the
maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking
into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Damon E. Wood, Inspector
in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Javan Wilson,
Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Treasury, Office of Inspector General;
and Troy W. Springer, Special Agent in Charge, National Capital Region, U.S. Department
of Labor, Office of Inspector General, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge
Rossie D. Alston, Jr. accepted the plea.
The Fairfax County Police Department also provided significant assistance in the
investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Shartar and Kathleen Robeson and Special Assistant U.S.
Attorney Ezra Spiro are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the
Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the
website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching
for Case No. 1:23-cr-168.

Contact
USAVAE.Press@usdoj.gov

Updated November 1, 2023

Topic
DISASTER FRAUD


Component
USAO - Virginia, Eastern


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