Bryan Ochoa Diaz, a 32-year-old resident of Tigard, Oregon, pleaded guilty to money laundering charges in federal court related to the misuse of Covid relief funds. Acting on behalf of Casa Colima Vancouver, Inc., his family-owned restaurant, Ochoa Diaz applied for and received a $350,000 loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) under a Covid-era relief program.
The loan required that all funds be used strictly as working capital for the business to address losses caused by the pandemic. According to court documents, on August 16, 2021, the SBA deposited $350,000 into Casa Colima’s bank account. The following day, Ochoa Diaz transferred $100,000 from the business account into his parents’ personal bank account and then wired those funds to pay down their home mortgage.
Ochoa Diaz is also a reserve officer with the U.S. Coast Guard. He was charged with one count of money laundering and made his initial appearance in court on September 5, 2025. He waived indictment by a grand jury and pleaded guilty to the charge today. Ochoa Diaz has repaid the full amount of $350,000 as restitution to the SBA.
He faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for December 15, 2025 before a U.S. District Court Judge.
The case was investigated by the SBA Office of Inspector General and the Coast Guard Investigative Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chris Cardani and Meredith Bateman for the District of Oregon.
"Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form."
