A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer has been arrested for allegedly committing fraud related to a COVID-19 relief program. Amer Aldarawsheh, 45, is accused of using two fake businesses to request and receive nearly $150,000 from a federal loan program designed to help small businesses during the pandemic.
The indictment, announced this week, includes five counts of wire fraud. Prosecutors say Aldarawsheh misled the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and misused the loan funds. He applied for loans in 2020 and 2021 on behalf of two businesses—Nahar Enterprises Inc., which he claimed was a trucking company based in San Bernardino, and Ameral, a supposed automotive repair shop. Investigators later discovered that neither of these businesses had any significant operations or employees.
According to federal prosecutors, Aldarawsheh knowingly misappropriated the funds for his personal benefit. They highlighted a transfer of almost $150,000 in loan money to a bank account under his control in December 2020.
Facing serious charges, Aldarawsheh has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in federal prison. He has been released on a $30,000 bond. As of now, there has been no comment from U.S. Customs and Border Protection regarding his employment status.
This case is part of a larger pattern of fraud associated with COVID-19 relief programs. The SBA has estimated that more than $200 billion may have been distributed in potentially fraudulent loans during the pandemic. Authorities are continuing to investigate and crack down on fraudulent claims to ensure that relief funds reach the small businesses that truly need them.