Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
A retired Massachusetts State Police sergeant has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty to wire fraud related to a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan, according to an April 10 announcement by federal authorities.
Damian Halfkenny, 54, of Boston, is accused of submitting a fraudulent application for a PPP loan in March 2021. At the time, Halfkenny was employed full-time as a state police sergeant and also owned several rental properties. Prosecutors allege that he falsely claimed his real estate business had monthly payroll expenses of $8,488 and provided a fabricated IRS Schedule C as part of his application.
Based on these alleged misrepresentations, the U.S. Small Business Administration issued Halfkenny a $21,220 PPP loan which was later forgiven. The charge carries potential penalties of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge following the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Boston Division announced the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Wichers from the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting the case.
Officials emphasize that "the details contained in the charging document are allegations" and that "the defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law." A plea hearing date has not yet been set.
