North Shore Boxing Gym Owner Pleads Guilty To COVID Fraud

LYNNFIELD, MA — A North Shore boxing gym owner pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 business loans and collecting unemployment he was not entitled to under the Economic Security (CARES) Act and Payroll Protection Program.

Daniel Olivar, 44, of Lynnfield pleaded guilty to four counts of wire fraud, according to the U.S. District Attorney's Office. He is scheduled for sentencing in December.

Oliver was arrested last December after the former owner of Sonny's Boxing and Fitness, Inc. of Middleton was accused of filing false or fraudulent applications with the United States Small Business Administration, including an Economic Injury Disaster Loan and PPP loan.

Court documents also said that Olivar received unemployment benefits from 2020 until at least May 2021 after falsely claiming he had been laid off from a Gold's Gym location.

The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

FBI Special Agent Jody Cohen said the FBI will continue to aggressively pursue those who are using the money from these economic relief programs to pad their own pockets inappropriately.

Those who know of similar instances of fraud are asked to contact 1-800-CALL-FBI.