PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Philadelphia man is accused of forging applications and receiving more than $139,000 in pandemic-related federal assistance less than a week after he got out of prison for murder.
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Kyle McLemore, 44, was charged with mail fraud and theft of public money.
In February 1999, he was convicted of murdering one person and shooting three others at the University of Pennsylvania’s Palestra after a high school basketball game.
McLemore was released in May 2020 after 21 years behind bars. But, less than a week after his release, federal officials say he started submitting false applications for pandemic aid.
According to the indictment, McLemore applied for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, which provides low-rate emergency loans for businesses.
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Authorities say McLemore claimed he had lost his job due to COVID-19 and said his last day of work was on a day that he was actually still in prison. He falsely told the government he had not been on probation or parole in the last five years.
McLemore also allegedly asked for financial help for a fake tobacco business and forged a city business license.
In all, he received $14,555 in unemployment benefits and nearly $125,000 in business loans.
If convicted, McLemore faces a maximum of 40 years in prison and a $750,000 fine.