Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
A former Massachusetts resident, now living in Los Angeles, has admitted guilt in a case involving fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications. Rindal Pierre-Canel, aged 30, entered a guilty plea on June 24, 2025, to three counts of wire fraud. The sentencing is set for October 1, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Myong J. Joun. Pierre-Canel was initially arrested and charged in January of the same year.
The charges stem from activities between March and May 2021 when Pierre-Canel submitted three false PPP loan applications. These applications resulted in him receiving over $50,000 under false pretenses. Two of the applications were filed using his name while the third involved stolen personal information from an unsuspecting victim. The fraudulent submissions contained misleading statements about business operations and income supported by fabricated tax documents. Funds obtained through these means were used for personal expenditures such as flights to California and designer clothing.
Wire fraud charges can result in sentences up to 20 years imprisonment along with three years of supervised release and fines reaching $250,000. Federal district court judges determine sentences based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and applicable statutes.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley alongside Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England. Assistance came from the U.S. Department of Labor and police departments in Cambridge and Hermosa Beach, California. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Sullivan is leading the prosecution.
The Fraud Section within the Criminal Division spearheads prosecutions related to schemes exploiting the PPP initiative introduced by the CARES Act. To date, this section has charged over 150 individuals across more than 95 cases seizing upwards of $75 million linked to fraudulent activities involving PPP funds.
More details are available at Justice.gov/OPA/pr/justice-department-takes-action-against-covid-19-fraud.
