14 people, including Indian-origin businesspersons and employees, were accused of fraud of $53 million in Texas. These people have been accused of defrauding the ‘Paycheck Protection Program’ (PPP), launched during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The arrests were made on July 4 and July 5 from the three US states of Texas, California, and Oklahoma.

The Paycheck Protection Program

The PPP was an SBA (US Small Business Administration)-backed loan that would help businesses keep their workforce employed during the COVID-19 crisis. According to the US attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Leigha Simonton, this is the largest-ever investigated case by the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) task force. 

‘Defrauding government is like insulting American taxpayers’

Simonton also reportedly said that the 14 accused have defrauded the PPP and several financial institutions for around $53 million. He added that cheating the government at a time when millions of entrepreneurs were struggling to pay salaries and rent during the pandemic was like rubbing salt in the wounds.

It was, in his words, like insulting the American taxpayers. Simonton also said that the amount could have helped a number of legitimate businesses pay their bills and retain their employees.

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