Andrew Hollins, 38, of Colchester and New York City, has been sentenced to over five years in federal prison following his guilty pleas to charges including narcotics trafficking, wire fraud, and money laundering. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont confirmed the sentencing on [date].
Chief U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss also imposed a restitution requirement of $33,000, which Hollins must pay after completing his prison term. The sentence stems from two separate criminal cases.
Hollins was indicted in December 2022 for his role in distributing cocaine on three separate occasions during late 2019. Additionally, he faced another indictment for committing fraud and money laundering related to Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications in 2020.
Between mid-2020 and the fall of 2020, Hollins submitted eight fraudulent EIDL loan applications to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). He applied using his name, names of shell companies he created, the identities of two relatives, and even three stolen identities. These applications were filled with false information about the businesses’ establishment dates, revenue figures, employee numbers, and locations.
While the SBA rejected most of the applications, two were approved and funded, resulting in the disbursement of $33,000.
Hollins’ sentence will run concurrently with a two- to four-year prison sentence for separate gun charges he is currently serving in New York. Upon his release, he will also be responsible for paying restitution to address the fraud he committed.
The case highlights the growing issue of EIDL fraud, with authorities continuing to crack down on individuals who misuse government relief programs for personal gain. Hollins’ conviction serves as a warning to others who might attempt to exploit such programs.
