(WWJ) – A Frankenmuth man is headed to trial facing multiple felonies for allegedly stealing money from the federal government that was meant to help businesses stay afloat at the height of the pandemic.
Anthony Golden, 67, was bound over for trial Tuesday for fraudulently obtaining two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans from the government, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Wednesday.
Officials say the two loans totaled nearly $41,000.
Golden is charged with two counts of false pretenses in excess of $20,000, two counts of filing false tax returns, and one count of using a computer to commit a crime.
He allegedly applied for and received two PPP loans by claiming to have payroll income that was impacted by the pandemic, even though that was not true, according to the AG’s office.
Golden then subsequently sought and received forgiveness of both loans by representing that the funds were used in compliance with PPP rules and certifying that they were used primarily for payroll, Nessel’s office alleges.
Golden allegedly failed to report the improperly forgiven loans as income on his Michigan tax returns.
Authorities did not say what business Golden was associated with or purported to be associated with.
“PPP loans from the federal government were meant as a lifeline to keep the businesses we depend on afloat during the tumultuous times of the pandemic,” Nessel said in a press release. “Those who defrauded that program not only cheated their fellow Americans out of their hard-earned money in a difficult time, but denied other deserving businesses who couldn’t get those resources.”
Nessel’s office says the state saw millions of dollars fraudulently obtained from the program. An exact number has not been disclosed. It is not clear how many people have been charged with PPP fraud, though Golden is far from the first. His next court date has not been scheduled.
The Homeland Security Investigations Detroit field office assisted with the investigation into Golden’s loans.