ENCINO, Calif. (KNX) – An Encino man was convicted Monday after he submitted fraudulent applications to the Paycheck Protection Program, the U.S. Department of Justice said.
Robert Benlevi, 53, of Encino, submitted almost 30 PPP loan applications to four banks on behalf of eight companies he owned between April and June 2020, according to the Department of Justice, citing court documents.
Benlevi was asking for a total of $27 million in forgivable PPP loans. He said on the loans that each of his companies had 100 employees and the average monthly payroll was $400,000. In his applications, he said the money would be used for payroll, as well as “other business expenses.”
Officials said three his “companies” received $3 million in PPP funds, and that the money was used for “personal expenses.”
Benlevi was convicted on money laundering, bank fraud and providing false statement to a financial institution.
His sentencing is scheduled for June 27.
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