fbpx
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Sign up for Free Newsletter
  • Print Edition
    • Get Home Delivery
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Customer Support
    • Submit A News Tip
    • Where’s My Paper?
  • Manage HV1 Account
Hudson Valley One
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s Happening
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Featured Events
      • Art
      • Books
      • Kids
      • Lifestyle & Wellness
      • Food & Drink
      • Music
      • Nature
      • Stage & Screen
  • Opinions
    • Letters
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Help Wanted
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Podcast
  • Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s Happening
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Featured Events
      • Art
      • Books
      • Kids
      • Lifestyle & Wellness
      • Food & Drink
      • Music
      • Nature
      • Stage & Screen
  • Opinions
    • Letters
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Help Wanted
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Podcast
  • Log In
No Result
View All Result
Hudson Valley One
No Result
View All Result

Saugerties man arrested for $5 million fraudulent coronavirus claim

by David Gordon
January 4, 2021
in Crime
0
Mother’s milk

“Small businesses have suffered devastating losses during the coronavirus pandemic, and the FBI will not tolerate anyone who steals the funding designed to be a lifeline for those businesses,” said FBI special agent Thomas F. Redford in an announcement of fraud charges against Saugerties resident Jean R. Lavanture, a.k.a. Rudy Lavanture.

Lavanture, 47, is accused of fraudulently obtaining nearly $5 million in government-backed loans meant for businesses struggling with the financial effects of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a press release issued by the US. Attorney’s office for the Northern District of New York. “FBI agents arrested Lavanture Thursday, September 17 at an 8.54-acre estate in New Jersey he is alleged to have bought with fraudulently obtained funds.”

Lavanture allegedly received approximately $4,906,281 between June 16 and July 22, 2020 through the Paycheck Protection Program and economic injury disaster loans. The funds were issued by two banks and the Small Business Administration to five Saugerties-based companies Lavanture controlled, the press release states. The US. Attorney’s office alleges that Lavanture falsely represented that each company had employees, substantial revenues and a payroll, and, the charge states, “he submitted fraudulent tax documents in support of his lies.”

In fact, according to the complaint, none of these companies has ever reported employees to the New York State Department of Labor, nor reported income to the Internal Revenue Service for 2017 through 2019, the press release states.

“The complaint also alleges that Lavanture has improperly used loaned funds to make property purchases and pay personal expenses, further demonstrating his fraudulent intent. According to the complaint, Jean Lavanture stole millions of dollars from important government programs created to help struggling communities during the pandemic. We are on the lookout for fraud, and we will use all available tools to prosecute those who lie, cheat and steal from programs that America’s businesses and their employees so desperately need,” said acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon. 

Law enforcement said it would “continue to aggressively pursue fraudsters seeking to illegally exploit the ongoing coronavirus emergency.”|

The widely used CARES Act authorized forgivable loans to small businesses for job/employee retention and certain other expenses, through the PPP. PPP loan proceeds must be used by the borrowing business only on certain, permissible expenses – specifically, payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. PPP loans are issued by banks and guaranteed by the SBA.

“The charges in the complaint are merely accusations,” the document states. “The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.”

Tags: members
Thank you for reading Hudson Valley One. We rely on your support to continue providing local, substantive news. Please check out our subscription options to keep local journalism alive in the Hudson Valley.
- Geddy Sveikauskas, Publisher
Previous Post

News & notes (9/23/20)

Next Post

Local police officers “targeted,” says chief

David Gordon

Related Posts

Saugerties police will get crisis intervention training
Crime

Saugertes man faces multiple charges after domestic disturbance

May 12, 2022
Jeff Collins is the new president of Woodstock Library Board
Crime

Woodstock Library board president is arrested for stealing opponents’ sign

May 11, 2022
Police testimony under fire Kingston murder suspect goes free
Crime

Police testimony under fire Kingston murder suspect goes free

May 3, 2022
Legal Notice: 2-lot subdivision
Crime

Truvock Noble perceived Erick Crawford as “a missile sent by baking-soda man”

April 9, 2022
Midtown murder trial enters second week
Crime

Midtown murder trial enters second week

April 5, 2022
Child reported missing in 2019 found in Saugerties
Crime

Child reported missing in 2019 found in Saugerties

February 16, 2022
Next Post
Local police officers “targeted,” says chief

Local police officers “targeted,” says chief

Trending News

  • Bubbe’s Deli opens in Gardiner’s former Mountain Harbor 1.7k views
  • Saugertes man faces multiple charges after domestic disturbance 1k views
  • The moon is down in Central Hudson 731 views
  • Expanded High Falls museum provokes rich insights 351 views
  • Ryan and Molinaro run for Congress, Gallagher available to move up 310 views







Latest HV1 Podcast

Weather

Kingston
◉
66°
Fair
5:31am8:13pm EDT
Feels like: 66°F
Wind: 3mph WNW
Humidity: 32%
Pressure: 29.89"Hg
UV index: 0
ThuFriSat
70/48°F
81/63°F
97/68°F
Weather forecast Kingston, New York ▸

Ulster County COVID-19 Active Cases

Subscribe

Independent. Local. Substantive. Subscribe now.

×
You have free article(s) remaining. Subscribe for unlimited access.
View Subscription Offers Sign In
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Sign up for Free Newsletter
  • Print Edition
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
  • Manage HV1 Account

© 2022 Ulster Publishing

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s Happening
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Featured Events
      • Art
      • Books
      • Kids
      • Lifestyle & Wellness
      • Food & Drink
      • Music
      • Nature
      • Stage & Screen
  • Opinions
    • Letters
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Help Wanted
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Podcast
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Contact Us
    • Customer Support
    • Advertise
    • Submit A News Tip
  • Print Edition
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
    • Where’s My Paper
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Log In

© 2022 Ulster Publishing