Buffalo, NY (WBEN) The owner of the Rapids Theater and an associate have been charged with defrauding the federal COVID programs. John Hutchins along with Roberto Soliman are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud.
Hutchins is accused of making false statements, while Soliman is charged with money laundering. Federal prosecutors say the pair filed fraudulent loan applications under both the Economic Injury Disaster Loan and the Paycheck Protection Program for the Hutchins-owned Rapids theater, 1711 Main, LLC, Bear Creek Entertainment, LLC, Hutch Enterprises, LLC, The Hutchins Agency, LLC and the Soliman-owned CWE Entertainment, Corp.
Prosecutors say the two received four Economic Injury Disaster Loans totaling $749,500, and in return the pair submitted false revenue and expense figures for the businesses on the loan applications. Hutchins and Soliman are accused of using the loan funding for their own personal expenses. They also applied for and received a Paycheck Protection Program loan totaling $74,838.
If convicted, they face 30 years in prison.