Former Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty To COVID Fraud | U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of New York, April 24, 2023
Summary
A press release of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of New York dated Monday, April 24, 2023, announcing that Mohammad Fares, 28, formerly of Buffalo and now of Florida, convicted of theft of government property, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to three years of supervised release, 200 hours of community service and restitution of approximately $43,000. According to the release, on May 18, 2020 he applied to the New York State Department of Labor for unemployment insurance benefits, stating that he did not work. It was announced by U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross.
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Press Release Former Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty To COVID Fraud Monday, April 24, 2023 For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of New York BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Mohammad Fares, 28, formerly of Buffalo, now of Florida, who was convicted of theft of government property, was sentenced to serve to three years supervised release, perform 200 hours of community service, and pay restitution of approximately $43,000 by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who handled the case, stated that on May 18, 2020, Fares submitted an online application to the New York State Department of Labor for unemployment insurance benefits, stating that he did not work any day during the week of May 18, 2020; that he did not have gross earnings over $504; that his last day of work was March 21, 2020; and that his workplace had closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, Fares co-owned a trucking company in Buffalo, for which he managed truck drivers and coordinated shipments. On June 11, 2020, Fares received $3,600 in Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation benefits. Every week through May 2, 2021, Fares certified to that he did not work during the prior week and had not returned to work. In doing so, Fares certified his continued eligibility for Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation and NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefits. During this time period, Fares continued to manage the trucking company. Fares received, in total, approximately $43,320 in unemployment benefits and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation. The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It expands states’ ability to provide unemployment insurance for many workers impacted by COVID-19, including for workers who are not ordinarily eligible for benefits. The CARES Act provided for three new UI programs: Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA); Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC); and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC). Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations – Labor Racketeering and Fraud, Northeast Region, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Jonathan Mellone and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Michael Stansbury. # # # # Contact Barbara Burns 716-843-5817 Updated April 24, 2023 Topic Coronavirus Component USAO - New York, Western Related Content Press Release Buffalo Man Going To Prison For COVID Relief Fraud U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Christian Johnson, 25, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of wire fraud, was sentenced to serve 30 months in prison by U.S... May 4, 2023 Press Release Buffalo Man Going To Prison On Multiple Drug, Gun And Covid-19 Fraud Crimes BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Joseph Bella, 50, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, being a drug... March 9, 2023 Press Release North Tonawanda Man Going Back To Prison For COVID-19 Relief Fraud And Violating Supervised Release December 22, 2022
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