A former NASA employee was sentenced to 18 months in prison on Thursday for fraud related to the coronavirus pandemic.
Andrew Tenza, of Leesburg, Virginia, has been found guilty of fraudulent requests for more than $ 350,000 in COVID-19 aid loans, the Justice Department said in a press release.
Tenza submitted three Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications totaling $ 272,284. In support of these filings, Tenza filed fake IRS tax returns and alleged pay slips that did not exist, prosecutors said.
He also sent two applications for $ 69,500 worth of loan under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and application for a total of $ 15,950 COVID-19 related unemployment benefits from Virginia for his retired mother-in-law who was ineligible for benefits .
Tenza received more than $ 285,000 from the loans and benefits it applied for, the majority of it from the PPP.
He used the money to pay off personal loans for a residential pool and minivan. He also paid off credit card debt, paid a deposit for a new car and paid for a dog breeder, authorities said.
Tenza also admitted filing a false financial report with NASA.
Mark J. Zielinski, special envoy for NASA’s Eastern Branch Office of the Inspector General, said in a statement that Tenza “stole funds from American taxpayers that he ultimately used to pay personal debts and buy luxury goods.”
“Today’s pronouncement of the verdict should scare off anyone trying to use the system for personal satisfaction,” said Zielinski.
Tenza pleaded guilty to a single fraud in April. according to court records. In addition to the prison term, he was sentenced to three years supervised release and $ 285,449.11 in restitution and confiscation.