A federal grand jury in the Central District of California has indicted Marisela Nuno, a 53-year-old woman from Los Angeles, on charges related to an alleged scheme to defraud COVID relief programs. The indictment alleges that Nuno defrauded the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, which are federal stimulus programs authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, out of approximately $18 million.
According to court documents, Nuno submitted false and fraudulent loan applications on behalf of businesses and entities she claimed to own, seeking over $15.7 million in Paycheck Protection Program funds and over $2.6 million in Economic Injury Disaster Loan funds.
The applications allegedly contained false statements about the number of employees, average monthly payroll, gross revenues, and eligibility for funding, and were supported by false tax documentation. Nuno is also alleged to have used the loan funds for unauthorized purposes, including purchasing private property, covering business startup costs, and making payments to family members.
The Justice Department has charged Nuno with three counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering, although it is noted that an indictment is merely an allegation. The case is ongoing, with the indictment marking a significant development in the investigation into the alleged COVID relief fraud scheme.