Fraud Friday— Man Arrested After Faking His Own Death to Avoid PPP Fraud Charges

September 25, 2020 

By Caity Roach
Contributing Editor, Fraud Friday

Fraud Friday— Man Arrested After Faking His Own Death to Avoid PPP Fraud Charges

 

David Staveley, one of the first in the nation to be arrested for trying to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), has allegedly attempted to fake his own death to avoid showing up in court.

Federal investigators say that Staveley sought more than $438,500 in loans, claiming he had dozens of employees who worked at three restaurants in Rhode Island. However, two of the applicant restaurants were not open for business prior to the start of the pandemic and Staveley did not possess any connection to the third restaurant for which he was seeking financial relief. 

After his arrest on May 5th, 2020, Staveley allegedly violated the terms of his pre-trial release when he traveled to Connecticut. In response, the court ordered Staveley to home confinement with GPS monitoring. However, the U.S. Attorney’s office says Staveley cut off his electronic monitoring bracelet and fled.

In June, Staveley’s vehicle was found unlocked with his key in the ignition near a beach in Massachusetts. Authorities say his wallet, Driver’s License, and a typed and signed suicide note were also in the car. Massachusetts State Police dispatched a search and rescue boat in an attempt to locate Staveley’s body. However, detectives never found evidence indicating he had committed suicide.

After faking his death, Staveley traveled to various states with false identities and stolen license plates until he was found by the United States Marshals Service in Alpharetta, Georgia on July 23. Authorities say that at the time of his arrest Staveley had in his possession multiple forms of identifications and ID badges each bearing different names. 

Staveley, also known as Kurt Davis Sanborn and David Sanborn, now faces three counts of bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count for submitting false statements to influence the SBA, one count of aggravated identity theft, and one count of failing to appear in court.

Sources:
Boston News
Mass Live

Image:
Wayland Police Department – 2016 Booking Picture

Previous Reporting:
Fraud Friday — Two Rhode Island  Businessmen Arrested on PPP Loan Fraud Charges