A former San Diego resident is being charged with COVID-19 relief fraud and money laundering.
Nasser Salman, 60, was charged with defrauding three businesses by unlawfully obtaining more than $400,000 in COVID-relief loan funds, according to a May 8 news release. Salman, formerly of San Diego, is now living in Morocco.
“These loan programs were designed to render economic relief to Americans during an unprecedented public health emergency,” U.S. Department of Homeland Security Attorney Randy Grossman said in the release. “This office is dedicated to investigating and prosecuting those who exploited the global pandemic to enrich themselves. We encourage anyone with information regarding individuals who have engaged in COVID relief fraud to come forward.”
In connection with Lemon Grove Deli and Grill Inc., Al Laith Trading and Construction Consulting Inc. and Alliance Security Consulting Services Inc., the federal Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program received fraudulent applications from Salman, the release said.
Salman reportedly lied about the number of employees, the typical monthly payroll and the gross profits of these alleged enterprises between April and August 2020 in order to secure five loans totaling $401,000 under the two programs, according to the release. Salman also included fabricated paperwork to back up the applications.
"When Salman applied for the loans, he acknowledged the funds must be used to retain workers and maintain payroll or to make mortgage interest payments, lease payments and utility payments," the release said. "Instead, he engaged in a series of financial transactions, including international wire transfers to a Morocco-based bank account, that were designed to conceal and disguise the fact that the sources for the funds were the fraudulently obtained loans."
The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations and the Small Business Administration, the release reported.
“COVID relief fraud not only waste taxpayers’ dollars; it undermines the public trust of government programs,” HSI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz said in the release. “HSI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and bring to justice fraudsters who diverted financial relief away from Americans at a time when they need it the most.”
