Montana man acknowledges fraud on virus aid application
December 16, 2020 GMT
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) A Montana contractor acknowledged lying on an application for federal coronavirus relief money.
Matthew Jason Welch said he planned to use the money to pay off restitution in a separate criminal case, the Billings Gazette reported Tuesday. He pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in U.S. District Court in Billings.
Under his plea agreement, prosecutors will dismiss a second count of wire fraud.
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The newspaper said Welch had applied for roughly $35,000 in Payroll Protection Program funds in April on behalf of his company, Welch Sole Proprietorship. The funds were provided by Congress to aid businesses struggling due to the pandemic.
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