Cape Elizabeth Man Enters Civil Settlement for Alleged Misuse of Pandemic Relief Funds
Summary
Christopher Hooper of Cape Elizabeth, Maine agreed to pay $1,240,500 to settle allegations that Hooper, individually and through Hooper Consulting, LLC, received COVID-19 Economic Injury and Disaster Loan (EIDL) funding and misused the proceeds, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maine announced on September 15, 2025. The government alleged that Hooper used the relief funds for stock trades and personal investments, made large transfers to personal accounts and later applied for hardship relief to reduce monthly repayments. It further alleged spending of tens of thousands of dollars on a high-end interior designer, over $10,000 to a Land Rover dealer and tens of thousands of dollars on home improvements. The claims are allegations only, with no determination of liability.
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Press Release Cape Elizabeth Man Enters Civil Settlement for Alleged Misuse of Pandemic Relief Funds Monday, September 15, 2025 For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Maine Christopher Hooper will pay $1,240,500 to resolve lawsuit PORTLAND , Maine: Christopher Hooper, of Cape Elizabeth, has agreed to pay $1,240,500 to settle allegations that he individually and through his company, Hooper Consulting, LLC, received COVID-19 Economic Injury and Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) funding but misused the loan proceeds. EIDL loans were low-interest, fixed-rate, long-term loans intended to help businesses overcome the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic by providing working capital to meet operating expenses, including payroll, rent or mortgage payments, utilities, and other ordinary business expenses. Under the EIDL program, borrowers could use loan proceeds solely as working capital to alleviate economic injury caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As alleged by the government, Hooper used the COVID relief funds to make stock trades and personal investments. He also made a series of large transfers to his personal checking and savings account. Later, Hooper submitted a hardship application to reduce his monthly repayment obligations. The government further alleged that Hooper comingled EIDL and business funds, then made a series of large expenditures including tens of thousands of dollars to a high-end interior designer, over $10,000 to a Land Rover dealer, and tens of thousands of dollars on home improvements. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. This case is a result of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s ongoing efforts to identify and investigate fraudulently obtained or misused pandemic relief funds. Recent amendments to federal law have extended the statute of limitations for civil and criminal fraud enforcement actions concerning PPP and EIDL loans from six to 10 years. ### Contact Trevor H. Taniguchi, Assistant United States Attorney, Tel: (207) 780-3257 Updated September 15, 2025 Topic COVID-Related Fraud Component USAO - Maine Related Content Press Release New Gloucester Man Pleads Guilty to Presenting Counterfeit Treasury Checks Keith Mitchell, 38, also submitted a falsified tax return. February 5, 2026 Press Release False Claims Act Lawsuits Filed Against Two Individuals for Fraudulently Obtaining Pandemic Relief Funds November 19, 2025 Press Release New Hampshire Man Sentenced to Two Years for Pandemic Fraud Conspiracy Tyree Jones, 33, filed fraudulent applications for himself and also offered to help others obtain PPP and EIDL funds in exchange for “kickbacks” from any funds they received. May 13, 2025
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