A group of seven in Illinois and Texas have been charged with stealing millions in coronavirus relief money
– and wait till you hear what they spent it on.
Federal authorities say the group pulled the scam by submitting fake loan applications through the federal Payroll Protection Program, a government program meant to help small businesses during the pandemic. They then cashed fake paychecks at a check-cashing business owned by one of the suspects – including at least one check made out to the suspect’s 86-year-old mother. Feds say they scammed over $16 million and spent it on high-priced items like a Lamborghini, a Porsche, and an upscale Houston property.
