Miguel Vittorio, Yessenia Casillas, and Luis Vasquez have admitted guilt to bank fraud in separate federal cases related to defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). This program, administered by the Small Business Administration, provided loans to small businesses for job retention during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Miguel Vittorio submitted two fraudulent PPP loan applications in March 2021, falsely inflating employee numbers and payroll amounts. He also submitted fraudulent documentation to support these claims, acquiring approximately $126,800 in loan proceeds. Vittorio pleaded guilty to bank fraud, with sentencing scheduled for June 16, 2025, before Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to 5 years of supervised release.
Yessenia Casillas, during her plea hearing, admitted to submitting two PPP applications with false details in February 2021 for two businesses. Her fraudulent claims resulted in $74,500 obtained in loan proceeds. Casillas will be sentenced on April 29, 2025, by Judge Winmill, facing the same potential penalties as Vittorio.
Luis Vasquez submitted a fraudulent loan application in April 2021, misrepresenting employee numbers and payroll on falsified documents. This resulted in obtaining approximately $51,614. Sentencing for Vasquez is set for April 16, 2025, with U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford presiding.
Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott recognized the investigation efforts of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittney Campbell prosecuted these cases.