(Ken Silva, Headline USA) Massachusetts state representative Francisco Paulino, a Democrat, has been indicted for fraudulently obtaining hundreds of thousands of dollars in pandemic relief funds from around April 2020 to December 2021.
According to the federal indictment filed Tuesday, Paulino incorporated a company called Jackson Enterprise, and used that company to start a Heav’nly Donuts shop in August 2020. Paulino then allegedly applied for pandemic relief funds, saying that Jackson Enterprise earned about $426,755 for the 12-month period ending on Jan. 31, 2020. In fact, Jackson Enterprise had earned $0 that year.
As a result of Paulino’s fraudulent representations, he was able to receive multiple loans reportedly totaling over $700,000, according to the indictment.
Paulino also allegedly applied for pandemic unemployment assistance in the name of his relative, who was 77 years old at the time. The relative did not know about Paulino’s alleged scheme.
As a result, Paulino fraudulently obtained about $44,000 in pandemic relief funds, with the money being sent straight to his bank account.
Paulino was charged with eight counts of wire fraud, three counts of unlawful monetary transactions, and money laundering. He pled not guilty on Wednesday, and was released on personal recognizance on the condition that he surrendered his passport.
Ken Silva is the editor of Headline USA. Follow him at x.com/jd_cashless.
