Dunkirk Man Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Relief Fraud

A Dunkirk man has pleaded guilty to fraud tied to COVID-19 relief.

U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced Friday that Marqus Singh, 31, made the plea before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra Jr., which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright, who is handling the case, stated that in July 2020, Singh learned of a scheme to receive money through a government program that was designed to assist those impacted by COVID-19. While in the Western District of New York, Singh provided his identification information and social security number to a co-conspirator. A few weeks later, Singh received a check totaling $11,454 from the Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources. The money used to fund the check was issued through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Singh did not or has not resided or worked in Puerto Rico and was therefore legally ineligible to receive the money. In August 2020, Singh deposited the $11,454 check into a checking account at a bank in Dunkirk. He then withdrew some of the funds from the account, which he provided to his co-defendants as part of the scheme.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 16 before Sinatra.