Jonathan Ramaci, a business owner from Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and filing a false income tax return. Evidence showed that Ramaci defrauded the Small Business Administration by securing approximately $214,000 through fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) loans authorized under the CARES Act. He submitted false tax documents to obtain these funds.
Additionally, from 2017 to 2021, Ramaci either failed to file or filed false income tax returns, resulting in an IRS debt of $289,531. It was found that he used business funds for personal expenses without reporting them as income.
"This defendant’s actions... cost the taxpayer and the government hundreds of thousands of dollars," stated U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs. The sentence is intended to serve as a deterrent against similar fraudulent activities.
Steve Jensen from the FBI Columbia field office emphasized the importance of maintaining public confidence in financial institutions by holding perpetrators accountable. Donald “Trey” Eakins from IRS Criminal Investigation reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing those who fail to meet their tax obligations.
Judge Richard M. Gergel ordered Ramaci to serve a three-year term of court-ordered supervision following his imprisonment and pay $538,178.88 in restitution for his offenses. Additionally, he must pay $1,009,684.00 in restitution related to other offenses not covered by his plea agreement.
The COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force was established on May 17, 2021, by the Attorney General to enhance efforts against pandemic-related fraud through collaboration with various agencies.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Columbia Field Office and IRS Criminal Investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Bower prosecuting the case.
