Woodbridge Man Admits Bilking Government Out Of $2.3M In Pandemic Relief Scheme: Feds

WOODBRIDGE, CT — A local resident - accused of defrauding a COVID-19 pandemic relief program of more than $2.3 million and then using the money toward a house and education - has pleaded guilty.

Yasir Hamed, 60, entered the plea in a proceeding May 9 before Judge Stefan R. Underhill in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Hamed, who was arrested in November, pleaded guilty to bank fraud and engaging in illegal monetary transactions. He is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 8.

Hamed must pay $2,384,772 in restitution, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

During the pandemic, the government authorized forgivable Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, loans to help small businesses.

Hamed is an accountant, and he had an ownership interest or representative relationship with several New Haven area businesses.

These included Access Consulting and Professional Services Inc.; Connecticut Medical Transportation Inc.; Arabic Language Learning Program Inc.; Institute for Global Educational Exchange Inc.; Access Medical Transport Inc.; Ikea Car & Limo Inc.; Center of the World Tours, North America LLC.; and Sudanese American Friendship Association Inc., the U.S. Attorney’s office said, in an announcement.

Prosecutors said Hamed submitted PPP loan applications between June 2020 and September 2021 with false information, such as the number of employees and amount of payroll.

Hamed also submitted PPP loan applications for clients.

“In at least one instance, Hamed convinced the owner of a business, which he knew was not active and had no employees, to seek PPP funding. Hamed prepared the paperwork for the PPP application and then took a significant portion of the loan proceeds,” the U.S. Attorney’s office said.

Hamed obtained more than $2.3 million in PPP loans for his own businesses and for his clients, according to the government. Hamed received about $1 million in loan proceeds for himself and his family, and "significant kickbacks" from his clients. Hamed used the money for a downpayment on a $880,000 house in Woodbridge in October 2020, and for education expenses for a family member, prosecutors said.