Scam netted CT felon over $41K in coronavirus relief funds
NEW HAVEN — A felon took advantage of pandemic-induced economic adversity to acquire more than $40,000 in forgivable loans for a nonexistent cleaning business, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.
Antrum Coston, 40, of New Haven, pleaded guilty to wire fraud, money laundering and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport on Tuesday, the U.S. attorney’s office said. He was on supervised release from federal prison for drug and weapons offenses when he committed the alleged crimes.
In April 2021, Coston allegedly posed as a business owner to successfully apply for two forgivable Paycheck Protection Program loans totaling $41,666. Coston claimed that the business was established in 2018 and had earned $114,658 in gross income in 2019, but neither assertion was true, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. In fact, the office said, Coston had been incarcerated throughout 2019.
On Dec. 31, 2021, Coston was stopped by police while driving in West Haven, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. He then fled the scene, nearly striking an officer in the process, but was found hiding in a nearby parking lot, the office said.
Searches of Coston’s car, person and residence revealed narcotics, a ballistic vest, a total of $4,790 in cash and narcotics paraphernalia, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. The drugs recovered included “distribution quantities” of heroin/fentanyl, cocaine and crack cocaine, the office said.
In February 2022, Coston sought forgiveness for both PPP loans by falsely claiming the funds had been spent on payroll costs, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
Following his guilty plea Tuesday, Coston was released pending sentencing on March 15, the office said. He faces up to 50 years in prison.
Read More: Scam netted CT felon over $41K in coronavirus relief funds