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Prosecutors say Damian Halfkenny, 54, of Boston, submitted false payroll information to get a COVID-19-era Paycheck Protection Program loan.
A retired Massachusetts State Police sergeant has agreed to plead guilty in connection with an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain a federal pandemic relief loan, prosecutors announced Friday.
Damian Halfkenny, 54, of Boston, was charged with one count of wire fraud, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley’s office said. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled.
Prosecutors say Halfkenny, while working full-time as a state police sergeant in 2021, applied for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for a real estate business through which he owned and rented several properties. However, the business had no employees.
According to charging documents, Halfkenny claimed his business had monthly payroll expenses of $8,488 and submitted what…
Scammers capitalize on major disasters or heart-wrenching stories to solicit donations for non-existent charities. They often use names that are very similar to well-known, legitimate organizations to confuse donors.