A couple from New Jersey and Florida has been sentenced to 12 months in prison for fraudulently obtaining federal loans intended for COVID-19 relief. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Alina Habba.
Diana Valteri, 42, and Edmond Haxhillari, 43, residing in Sparta, New Jersey, and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, respectively, pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and money laundering before U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch. The sentences were handed down in Trenton federal court.
The fraudulent activities occurred between June and August 2020 when Valteri and Haxhillari applied for approximately $790,000 in Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) using false information. They submitted applications on behalf of several shell companies that had no actual business operations or employees. Once the funds were obtained, they used them for personal purposes.
The investigation leading to these charges involved multiple agencies. Special agents from the FBI’s Newark Field Office under Special Agent Terrence G. Reilly; IRS Criminal Investigation under Special Agent Jenifer Piovesan; Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General under Special Agent Amy Connelly; and the Small Business Administration’s Office of the Inspector General under Special Agent Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite played key roles.
This case is part of a broader effort by the District of New Jersey COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force, one of five such groups established by the Department of Justice across the United States to combat pandemic-related frauds involving large-scale operations by criminal organizations.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Fatime Meka Cano and Aja Espinosa represented the government in this case.
Reports of attempted COVID-19 related fraud can be made through the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via their online complaint form.
Defense attorneys William Tunkey and Joseph Nascimento represented Valteri and Haxhillari in this matter.
