PHILADELPHIA, PA — Francis J. Battista, 39, of Aston, Pennsylvania, was convicted this week on 22 felony charges, including wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering, for orchestrating a fraudulent scheme that siphoned $8.4 million from federal COVID-19 relief programs. The verdict, delivered by a jury, was announced by U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero. Following the decision, U.S. District Court Judge Paul S. Diamond ordered the defendant into custody.
According to evidence presented at trial, Battista exploited the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program to illegitimately obtain millions intended to aid businesses and workers severely impacted by the pandemic. Between March 2020 and June 2021, the defendant submitted 19 fraudulent applications seeking over $10 million in funds. He falsified application documents, including one under his own name, while using the personal information of other individuals — at times even a deceased person — to apply for additional loans.
Federal investigators revealed that nine of the 19 fraudulent applications submitted by Battista were approved, yielding $8.4 million in payments. These funds, intended as a lifeline for struggling businesses, were instead diverted for personal luxuries. Battista allegedly attempted to purchase Florida waterfront property, financed a Range Rover, paid for private school tuition, and engaged in stock trading that resulted in substantial financial losses.
Authorities have reclaimed $6.3 million lost in the scheme through asset forfeitures. Meanwhile, Battista now faces a maximum sentence of 316 years in prison, with a sentencing date still to be decided.
U.S. Attorney Romero condemned the defendant’s actions, stating, “Frank Battista tried to cash in on a public health crisis, diverting federal money meant to support businesses and workers hobbled by the pandemic. He didn’t care that he was defrauding the government and all of us taxpayers — he just wanted to live larger on somebody else’s dime. As his case shows, my office and our partners are committing to prosecuting these shameless COVID crooks and holding them fully accountable.”
Yury Kruty, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation, echoed those sentiments. “Mr. Battista took advantage of our nation’s generosity in a time of need by fraudulently applying for and obtaining COVID-19 program funds,” he said. “IRS-CI, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively investigate those who scheme to exploit federal relief programs for their personal gain.”
Glenn M. Dennis, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, underscored the broader implications of the case. “Criminals exploiting the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program steal valuable funds from the American taxpayer and from businesses who rightfully needed these programs to continue operation during the pandemic,” Dennis emphasized. “The Secret Service is committed to continuing our work with federal, state, and local law enforcement to track down and prosecute those who abused the PPP and EIDL Programs.”
This case, prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nancy E. Potts and Eric D. Gill, was the result of extensive investigations carried out by the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service, and the U.S. Secret Service.
As federal authorities continue their efforts to reclaim stolen funds and hold perpetrators accountable, this conviction exemplifies law enforcement efforts to protect taxpayer resources and ensure critical funds reach their intended recipients.
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