A Massachusetts businessman has been sentenced for misusing COVID-19 relief funds intended for business support. Jesse Lelievre, aged 42 from North Andover, received a sentence of two years of supervised release, including five months of home detention. He is also required to pay $179,090 in restitution. Lelievre pleaded guilty to theft of government property in September 2024 after being charged in July.
Lelievre owned and managed Paramount Plumbing & Heating LLC, which provided plumbing and heating services. In 2021, he applied for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), designed to help small businesses affected by the pandemic. Lelievre agreed to use the loan solely as working capital but instead diverted approximately $179,000 for personal expenses such as purchasing a diamond ring and remodeling his home.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division; and Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Field Office of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. The U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Inspector General provided substantial assistance in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Markham and Kriss Basil prosecuted the case.
In response to pandemic-related fraud, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force on May 17, 2021. This task force coordinates efforts across government agencies to investigate and prosecute fraud cases related to pandemic relief programs.
For those with information about attempted COVID-19 fraud, reports can be made through the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline or via their web complaint form.