John L. Hutchins, 71, of Lewiston, New York, pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York announced the plea, revealing that Hutchins, along with co-defendant Roberto Soliman, submitted fraudulent loan applications for federal relief under the CARES Act.
The scheme, which spanned from March 2020 to March 2024, involved securing emergency financial relief through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG). The loans, designed to assist businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, were falsely obtained by Hutchins and Soliman.
Between March and August 2020, Hutchins and Soliman received a total of $779,500 in EIDL loans. They also secured $989,905.05 in SVOG loans, alongside PPP loans totaling $74,838 from Bank on Buffalo and $41,140 from Northwest Bank. In each application, they submitted false revenue and expense information.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized that the charges carry significant penalties, including a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Soliman, Hutchins’ co-defendant, is still facing pending charges related to the scheme.
The case highlights the ongoing crackdown on fraud related to COVID-19 relief programs and the legal consequences of defrauding federal assistance programs.
