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SPOKANE – A 41-year-old man who moved to Cusick after stealing more than $140,000 through the Paycheck Protection Program was sentenced to a year and a half in prison in federal court last week.
Nathan Michael Triano, 41 was living in Davenport, Washington at the time the crimes occurred, according to court documents. He was sentenced on one count of wire fraud. Triano obtained six PPP loans totaling $140,865 by submitting materially false and fraudulent information concerning various purported businesses, according to a news release from Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.
In addition to the PPP funds dispersed to Triano, the United States also incurred a loss of $15,000 in lender fees for the PPPs, resulting in a total actual and intended loss of at least $155,865.
“Many small and local businesses had financial difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic. PPP loans were designed to help businesses navigate that uncertain time and keep people employed. Mr. Tirano’s actions caused limited funds to be diverted away from companies that needed the money, and instead went to line his own pockets,” Waldref said in the news release.
“The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration will continue to aggressively pursue anyone who creates fraudulent schemes or who fraudulently gets money from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act and its Paycheck Protection Program,” said Special Agent in Charge Rod Ammari. “We’re grateful to our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s Office in making sure these crimes are prosecuted.”
