Two NYPD Detectives are Accused of Helping 65 People Obtain Fraudulent PPP Loans

August 16, 2024

Delaney Sexton
Contributing Editor

Two NYPD Detectives are Accused of Helping 65 People Obtain Fraudulent PPP Loans

“As alleged, the defendants, including members of law enforcement responsible for upholding the law, defrauded the United States government out of relief funds meant for businesses struggling to survive the pandemic,” states United States Attorney Breon Peace. “These arrests are a powerful reminder of this Office’s resolve to prosecute anyone who violated the public trust and took advantage of the COVID crisis by stealing from relief programs.”

In Brooklyn, detectives John Bolden and Anthony Carreira, both employed by the New York Police Department, were indicted alongside Jacqueline Johnson and Christian McKenzie. All four defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

NYPD detectives Bolden and Carreira owned partnership interests in a franchise tax preparation business. Bolden is being accused of working with his clients and co-defendants to fraudulently obtain PPP loans. He succeeded in getting PPP loans approved for him and his co-defendants. In addition, he allegedly assisted more than 65 other individuals with submitting online loan applications containing false information. With his company, Bolden would prepare fictitious IRS Form Schedule C documents with false information about places of employment, gross income, and net income.

The fraud scheme was kickstarted after John Bolden received an email from “Co-Conspirator 1” with instructions on how to prepare fraudulent forms for PPP loans. In the email contained an audio recording in which “Co-Conspirator 1 recommended that meeting participants submit PPP loan applications in amounts less than $20,000 to avoid having to submit proof the money sought was properly used in order to apply for loan forgiveness.” That co-conspirator also said, “We all want the bread, but we also want the loan forgiveness. That’s the big win.”

Bolden, Johnson, and McKenzie were arraigned on Monday and released on $25,000 bail. John Bolden was also suspended from the NYPD without pay. Carreira will surrender at a later date and has retired from the NYPD.

Sources:
U.S. Attorney’s Office Press Release
Long Island Business News Article