Border Agent Accused of COVID-19 Small Business Loan Fraud by Authorities in U.S.
Jumping the Line for Cash:
A CBP officer, Amer Aldarawsheh, finds himself in hot water after allegedly exploiting a COVID-19 relief program for small businesses. The shrewd officer, hailing from Moreno Valley, California, was indicted for wire fraud, accused of swindling nearly $150,000 from the Small Business Administration (SBA) intended for struggling businesses[1][2].
The U.S. attorney's office alleges that Aldarawsheh intentionally lied to the SBA, creating two phony businesses - Nahar Enterprises Inc., a trucking company based in San Bernardino, and Ameral, an automotive repair company. However, investigators discovered that neither company boasted any substantial business or employees[2].
Aldarawsheh pleaded not guilty, although if found guilty, faces a potential 20-year stint in a federal penitentiary. Remarkably, he was granted a $30,000 bond and released, with the U.S. Customs & Border Protection remaining mum on his job status[3].
San Diego's restaurant scene isn't faring much better, as the owners of StreetCar Merchants Chicken Bar and Suckerfree Southern Plate & Bar were charged with fraud by the U.S. Attorney[3].
These unscrupulous business owners are accused of misusing EIDL funds, a similar disaster relief loan program, with the U.S. Attorney stating that Aldarawsheh "misappropriated and misused the EIDL funds he received from the SBA for his own personal benefit"[3].
In the pandemic era, the SBA has estimated that over $200 billion in potentially fraudulent funds were distributed through its disaster loan programs in an attempt to hasten relief[3].
More to Read:
- Immigration
- 2 U.S. border inspectors in San Diego accused of accepting bribes
- Mail Fraud
- Postal Service worker charged with swiping cash, coins, and $281,000 worth of checks from the mail
- Immigration Policies
- Trump names hard-line ally to head Customs and Border Protection
- The indictment of Amer Aldarawsheh, a Customs and Border Protection officer from California, unveiled a disturbing picture of law enforcement exploiting COVID-19 relief for small businesses.
- The general public's trust in law enforcement is further strained as another instance of alleged misconduct surfaces, this time involving fraudulent business ventures in California.
- As the California immigration scene remains under scrutiny, two border inspectors in San Diego are accused of accepting bribes, adding to the concerns over crime and justice.
- In the backdrop of immigration policies, the federal government grapples with besetting financial problems, including the allegedly fraudulent distribution of over $200 billion through small business disaster loan programs.
- Businesses across California, struggling to stay afloat during the pandemic, find themselves in a precarious position as another case of swindling disaster relief funds comes to light.
- The incident involving StreetCar Merchants Chicken Bar and Suckerfree Southern Plate & Bar in San Diego underscores the need for enhanced watchdog protection, particularly in the administering of relief funds for small businesses.
- The finance industry is left reeling as a postal service worker is charged with swiping cash, coins, and $281,000 worth of checks from the mail, further raising questions about accountability and justice.
- Amid the turmoil and controversy, Japris Brown, also known as "Rams," a high-profile figure in California's immigration scene and a key player in the freight industry, is indicted for impersonating a federal prisoner and more serious charges, adding another layer of complexity to the crime-and-justice narrative.
