A New York woman has been charged with fraudulently obtaining more than $1,000,000, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna. Raena Fuller, 28, from Yaphank, New York, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge José R. Almonte in Newark for her initial hearing.
The complaint outlines that the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security ("CARES") Act was a federal law enacted around March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This act enabled the Small Business Administration (SBA) to offer funding through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program to businesses impacted by the pandemic.
In September 2021, an EIDL application was submitted to the SBA on behalf of a business. The SBA provided approximately $1,200,000 in response. However, a representative of the business stated they did not make this application. Fuller eventually received some of these funds and was also involved in additional criminal activities related to fraudulent checks.
The charge of wire fraud carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine which could be either $250,000 or twice the gross profits or losses suffered by victims.
Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited special agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Franklin Township Resident Agency and special agents from the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation in Newark for their roles in leading to Fuller's arrest.
Senior Trial Counsel Andrew Kogan from the U.S. Attorney’s Office Cybercrime Unit in Newark represents the government in this case.
It is important to note that all charges and allegations are merely accusations at this stage; Fuller is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Defense counsel for Fuller is A. Charles Peruto Jr., based in Philadelphia, PA.