Plano dentist sentenced for fraudulent use of COVID-19 relief funds

Plano, Texas - In surprising news, a well-known dentist from Plano is about to go to federal prison for misusing COVID-19 relief money.

What did he do? He used $1.89 million from the relief fund, meant to mitigate the severe effects of the global health crisis, for personal luxuries, Dallas Metro News reported.

The dentist, Brian Bui, admitted he was guilty on Monday. He acknowledged his involvement in wire fraud, as substantiated by the United States Attorney’s Office. Bui, a 43-year-old figure of considerable repute within the dental field, admitted to using his dental practice as a means to secure two loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

Court papers provide an intriguing narrative of strategic manipulation and dishonesty. They expose how Bui, displaying a daring disregard for integrity, provided false details concerning his workforce size and monthly payroll costs in his PPP loan applications.

His strategic deceit was further heightened through the creation of counterfeit supporting documents needed for the loan application.

The actions that Bui took after acquiring the funds showcase an even grimmer facet of his dishonest conduct. As per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, he swiftly redirected the significant amount of $1.89 million—funds intended as forgivable loans to help businesses weather the pandemic's storm—to personal investments and non-business related expenditures.

In response to this glaring betrayal of public trust, a judge has issued a considerable sentence: Bui will serve 18 months in federal prison.

Compounding the severity of his imprisonment, Bui has also been ordered to repay a considerable sum, approximately $1.5 million, as restitution. The unfolding of these events underscores the harsh consequences that loom for individuals who attempt to manipulate systems established for societal welfare.