Massachusetts Man Sentenced For COVID Relief Fraud

Shane Spierdowis, 31, was sentenced in federal court in Boston last week. In addition to prison time, he faces two years of probation after his release.

Spierdowis pleaded guilty in October to using fake Social Security numbers, a fake driver's license and fraudulent documents such as tax forms to apply for loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, commonly known as the CARES Act.

Investigators said Spierdowis got a $101,517 Paycheck Protection Program loan in the name of a limited liability company in February and an $89,900 economic injury disaster loan in the name of a separate company.

The forged documents show Spierdowis as the president of both companies and reflect fictional payments of thousands of dollars he made to nonexistent employees in 2019, investigators said.

In reality, Spierdowis was in federal custody from May 2019 until June 29, 2020. He pleaded guilty to probation violations after being convicted in a stock manipulation scheme.

The names of the companies set up to get the loans were not mentioned in court documents.

Hull police helped the U.S. Secret Service with the investigation.

Joe Difazio can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @jldifazio.