Leader of $20M COVID-19 Relief Fraud Ring Sentenced to 15 Years

The head of a multimillion-dollar COVID-19 relief fraud ring and six of his co-conspirators were sentenced for fraudulently obtaining more than $20 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans that the Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

According to court documents, Amir Aqeel, 54, of Houston, was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in prison and ordered to forfeit $5,583,111.48 for leading the conspiracy, and for conspiring with at least 14 other individuals to submit 75 fraudulent PPP loan applications in 2020.

To read the full Department of Justice press release, visit: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/leader-20m-covid-19-relief-fraud-ring-sentenced-15-years