Marin Pandemic Scammers Sentenced: Report

MARIN COUNTY, CA — Two Marin twin brothers were sentenced in connection with a $2 million pandemic relief scam, The Marin Independent Journal reports.

Caesar Oskan, 67 of San Rafael, and Ester Ozkar of Novato, pleaded guilty in May to defrauding the federal government of funds intended to keep struggling businesses afloat amid the pandemic, according to the Department of Justice.

The twins were ordered to pay more than $3 million in combined fines and restitution between the two of them.

Caesar Oskan was sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay $1,493,904 in restitution and Ester Ozkar received a one-year prison sentence and was ordered to pay a $1 million fine and $509,038.41 in restitution, The IJ reports.

Both faced a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine, according to the DOJ.

The Ozkan and Ozkar pleaded guilty in May.

They admitted to submitting multiple separate fraudulent applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan programs designed to help businesses survive amid the pandemic.

In his written plea agreement, Caesar Oskan admitted that he obtained $1,006,004 in fraudulent PPP loans and $713,500 in fraudulent EIDL loans and advances.

In Ester Ozkar's plea agreement, he admitted that he obtained $474,132 in fraudulent PPP loans and $9,000 in EIDL advances.

"Pandemic relief funds are limited and intended to save legitimate struggling businesses from failing," Acting United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds said in a statement.

"Individuals, like these two brothers, who treat these pools of relief funds as their personal bank accounts deserve to be vigorously prosecuted."

The admissions describe the breadth of their criminal schemes.

In Caesar Oskan's plea agreement he admitted to submitting 27 fraudulent applications for PPP and EIDL loans on behalf of fictitious entities such as Bake and Wrap LLC, Comfort Plus Transportation LLC, Fast Food Plus LLC, Healthy Comfort Food, and CTC Trade LLC according to the DOJ.

For each of his 27 applications he created fake IRS tax documents that contained false statements about the number of employees, false payroll costs, and false wage amounts paid.

Ester Ozkar admitted in his plea agreement that he submitted eight fraudulent applications for PPP and EIDL loans on behalf of six entities with names such as 7Transportations, Alya LLC, Century Transportations Inc, and Last Mile Shuttle.

He also admitted that he submitted multiple fraudulent IRS forms in the application that landed him $46,250.

The convictions send a message to would-be scammers, Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General special agent Weston King said in a statement.

"Lying to gain access to economic stimulus funds will be met with justice," King said.

"SBA OIG will relentlessly pursue evidence of fraud against SBA's programs aimed at assisting the nation's small businesses struggling with pandemic challenges. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney's Office for its leadership and dedication to pursuing justice."

Caesar Oskan and Ester Ozkar each pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement to a financial institution.

Ozkar and Ozkan were ordered to surrender to authorities by March 15 and May 25, respectively.

Read more in The Marin Independent Journal