This month, a New Hampshire man admitted to participation in a nearly $320,000 COVID-19 relief fund scheme.
On January 8, 2025, Tyree Jones, 32, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Portland, Maine, to a charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine, Jones claimed to be the sole owner of “non-existent businesses in the agricultural and trucking industries” while he was submitting fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds.
Through three three fraudulent applications, officials say that Jones personally obtained $51,666.
Jones also admitted to helping at least 12 other co-conspirators in submitting fraudulent applications for PPP and EIDL funds in exchange for “kickbacks.” As part of this scheme, Jones and his coconspirators filed falsified IRS and bank documents.
Officials say the scheme, in total, netted Jones and co-conspirators nearly $320,000.
Jones faces up to up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, followed by up to three years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation.