Austin St. John, best known for playing the Red Ranger in various games. Forest ranger Franchise delivery was among those accused of conspiring to commit wire fraud on Tuesday in a federal indictment linked to the federal COVID-19 payroll program.
According to the Justice Department, the 47-year-old actor, also known as Jason Lawrence Geiger, was among 18 defendants who were arrested on conspiracy charges or summoned to federal court on the charges. If convicted, St. John faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, the group of defendants fraudulently obtained at least 16 loans and at least $3.5 million through a scheme led by two men, Michael Hill and Andrew Moran, to defraud the efforts of PPP lenders and small business administration.
Hill was allegedly responsible for hiring co-conspirators who used existing companies or established companies to solicit and receive PPP funds. Moran allegedly assisted the accomplices in requesting documentation, both in developing supporting documentation and in submitting their request through the Federal Assistance Program’s online portals.
The Justice Ministry said in a statement that the defendants had misrepresented the “true nature” of their business, as well as the number of people employed in the business and the amount of their salaries. The loans were then approved and disbursed by the SBA and other financial institutions “based on this material misinformation”.
Instead of spending money on employee salaries, utility bills or health benefits, St. John and 17 others are accused of paying Hill and Moran in some cases, who transferred money to personal accounts before spending it on personal purchases. Others allegedly sent their fraudulent earnings to a third party, Jonathan Spencer, to invest in the forex markets.
The case is being investigated by the FBI and IRS, a criminal investigation with federal prosecutors in East Texas.
the hollywood reporter He asked for comment from a representative of St. John.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
