Michigan man sentenced in $2.5M pandemic aid scheme
A Shelby Township man has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for his role in a multi-million-dollar pandemic relief fraud scheme, federal officials announced.
Samer Kammo, 46, was sentenced in Detroit by U.S. District Judge Jonathan J. C. Grey after pleading guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and bank fraud in connection with the federal Paycheck Protection Program.
Kammo and his co-conspirators submitted fraudulent PPP loan applications for multiple businesses, falsifying payroll figures and certifying the funds would be used for legitimate business purposes.
Federal investigators said the group also submitted fictitious payroll, health insurance, banking and tax records to support the applications.
Kammo and members of his family received nearly $2.5 million in fraudulent PPP funds. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.
“This defendant and his co-conspirators tried to cheat the system by exploiting a federal relief program meant to help Americans in need,” said Jennifer Runyan, the FBI special agent in charge of the case. “If you abuse government programs for personal gain, you will be found, and you will face serious consequences under the law.”
Jared Murphey, the HSI acting special agent in charge, said investigators remain committed to pursuing pandemic-era fraud.
Samer Kammo, 46, was sentenced in Detroit by U.S. District Judge Jonathan J. C. Grey after pleading guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and bank fraud in connection with the federal Paycheck Protection Program.
Kammo and his co-conspirators submitted fraudulent PPP loan applications for multiple businesses, falsifying payroll figures and certifying the funds would be used for legitimate business purposes.
Federal investigators said the group also submitted fictitious payroll, health insurance, banking and tax records to support the applications.
Kammo and members of his family received nearly $2.5 million in fraudulent PPP funds. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.
“This defendant and his co-conspirators tried to cheat the system by exploiting a federal relief program meant to help Americans in need,” said Jennifer Runyan, the FBI special agent in charge of the case. “If you abuse government programs for personal gain, you will be found, and you will face serious consequences under the law.”
Jared Murphey, the HSI acting special agent in charge, said investigators remain committed to pursuing pandemic-era fraud.
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