A New Jersey resident has confessed to illegally obtaining approximately $617,991 through federal Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Alina Habba.
Malak Faltawws, also known as "Mark Andrews," aged 47 from Rutherford, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on June 10, 2025. He appeared before U.S. District Judge Evelyn Padin in Newark federal court and admitted to charges of wire fraud and money laundering.
Court documents reveal that between March 2020 and November 2021, Faltawws secured COVID-19 emergency relief funds intended for struggling small businesses by submitting fraudulent applications. These applications included inflated figures for business revenue, payroll expenses, and employee numbers. The misappropriated funds were then used for personal purposes.
The charge of wire fraud carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, while the money laundering charge could result in a maximum sentence of 10 years. Both charges include a possible fine of $250,000 or twice the financial gain or loss involved in the crime. Sentencing is set for October 22, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Habba acknowledged the efforts of special agents from the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations led by Special Agent in Charge Jenifer Piovesan and investigators from the New Jersey Motor Vehicles Commission under Chief Administrator Latrecia Littles-Floyd.
The case is part of efforts by the District of New Jersey COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force, one of five such groups established nationwide by the U.S. Department of Justice to tackle large-scale pandemic relief frauds orchestrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aja Espinosa from the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark is representing the government in this case.
Individuals with information about attempted COVID-19 fraud are encouraged to report it via the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or through their online complaint form.
Defense counsel for Faltawws includes Areeb Salim Esq., and Shaiba Rather Esq.
