TheBadPlaceundefined | Former VA employee charged with fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 benefits by Darin Zullo
A former Veterans Affairs employee, 38‑year‑old Jesus Abreu of Brockton, was indicted Thursday on three counts of wire fraud for allegedly obtaining COVID‑19 relief funds through false statements. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts said Abreu worked as a food‑service worker for the VA from November 2021 to March 2022 and, in July 2020, applied for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) claiming inflated gross revenues, which resulted in a $32,400 award. In April 2021 he submitted two separate Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) applications, again misrepresenting income from his sole‑proprietorship.
According to prosecutors, Abreu attached fabricated tax documents to support these fraudulent claims. The PPP applications were approved, and he received a total of $41,666, which authorities allege he used for personal expenses rather than eligible business costs. Later, in September 2021, Abreu filed loan‑forgiveness paperwork claiming the entire $41,666 had been spent on payroll, a false assertion that led to the forgiveness of the loans.
If convicted, Abreu faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and fines up to $250,000. The case underscores the heightened scrutiny of COVID‑19 relief programs and the federal government’s commitment to prosecuting fraud that diverts emergency assistance from legitimate recipients.
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