COVID Relief Fraud Using Fake Businesses Leads To Alexandria Man's Guilty Plea

ALEXANDRIA, VA — An Alexandria man pleaded guilty Wednesday to his role in a COVID-19 pandemic relief scheme.

George Mensah, Jr., 32, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiring to fraudulently obtain pandemic benefits like Paycheck Protection Program loans and unemployment insurance.

The scheme happened from October 2020 to September 2021. According to federal prosecutors, Mensah and co-conspirators used fake businesses to submit over 47 applications for PPP loans. At least 21 of the fake businesses were supported by lenders, which caused a loss of at least $583,172.

In addition to PPP loan fraud, Mensah admitted that he and co-conspirators used identity theft victims' information to make claims for pandemic unemployment benefits in Virginia and elsewhere. They obtained about $658,952 in fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance and pandemic benefits.

Mensah could face a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 14, 2024.