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Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Yahoo
Prison or payback? Judge weighs smartest sentence for Paycheck Protection Program fraud
A judge put a 34-year-old West Palm Beach man on 10 years of probation after he pleaded guilty to money laundering in a scheme through which he and co-conspirators obtained fraudulent federal Paycheck Protection Program loans totaling nearly $350,000. Johnley Jorcilien entered the plea during a hearing on July 14 before Circuit Judge Howard Coates. The judge ordered that Jorcilien pay civil restitution, and that he be placed on house arrest for the first year of his probation. State prosecutors dismissed a charge of organizing scheme to defraud a person or business of $50,000 or more. Jorcilien faced up to four years in prison. However, Assistant State Attorney Daniel Litman Gross told the court the state's top concern was ensuring that Jorcilien pays restitution. Coates credited Jorcilien with one day of time served in the Palm Beach County Jail and warned him that he risks going to prison if he fails to comply with the restitution order. Boynton Beach: Alleged gang shooting at anti-violence rally leads to arrest of man, 19 Congress passed the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES, Act in March 2020. The stimulus bill was intended to help businesses cope with the economic problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Part of the bill created the Paycheck Protection Program, a Small Business Administration-backed effort providing money to businesses with fewer than 300 employees for up to eight weeks of payroll, including benefits. The program attracted thousands of fraudulent applications before it ended in May 2021. By the end of 2022, the SBA inspector general estimated that more than 70,000 loans were potentially fraudulent or went to companies that didn't need the funding to survive the COVID-19 shutdowns. Few fraudulent loans have been repaid. Jorcilien's arrest happened through a joint effort between the State Attorney's Office and the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, which formed a task force in 2023 targeting people suspected of filing fraudulent federal claims. Investigators said Jorcilien fabricated information regarding his number of employees in order to obtain more than $347,000 in loans for an inactive used-car business. Jorcilien reportedly deposited the fraudulently obtained funds into various bank accounts and began writing checks worth thousands of dollars in kickbacks to his suspected co-conspirators. He also used the ill-gotten funds to purchase a luxury vehicle, investigators said. Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@ and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Probation deal for Paycheck Protection fraud means man must repay US
The Hindu
13-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Primary teachers in Andhra Pradesh seek payment of pending arrears
Leaders of Andhra Pradesh Primary Teachers Association (APPTA) on Saturday (July 12, 2025) urged the State government to clear the pending dues of employees and teachers, constitute the Pay Revision Commission (PRC) and announce Interim Relief (IR) without further delay. In a letter addressed to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, the association's State president A.G.S. Ganapathi Rao and general secretary K. Prakash Rao said it has been over a year since the NDA government assumed office, but it has failed to keep its promises made at the time of elections. Pointing out that at least four instalments of Dearness Allowance (DA) were pending, they demanded that the government release at least part of the amount. They said the employee and teacher unions had been exercising enormous patience considering the State's financial condition and its transition to a new government. 'But as the time is passing, discontent is brewing among them,' Mr. Ganapathi Rao said, warning that it would lead to protests if the issues were not resolved soon. They demanded immediate payment of PRC arrears and the dues of surrendered leaves, which were not paid for over three years.
American Press
11-07-2025
- Business
- American Press
Sulphur business owner found not guilty of stealing COVID funds
Jenilea Pena was found not guilty of stealing federal funds issued to small business owners during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Special to the American Press) A Sulphur woman accused of stealing nearly $100,000 in federal funds issued to small businesses during the COVID pandemic has been cleared of wrong doing. This week a unanimous jury found Jenilea Pena not guilty of wire fraud and making false statements to the government. Pena was one of three owners of Planet Nutrition in Sulphur, owning 25 percent of the business. An indictment filed in federal court on March 20, 2024, claimed Pena filed for a small business loan in 2020 through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act without the knowledge of the majority owner. According to the indictment, Pena was accused of using $97,000 of the loan for her own personal use and submitting a fictitious document signed by the majority owner. After a four-day trial, the jury returned a not guilty verdict late Thursday on both counts. Faced with the option to plead to a misdemeanor, 'Jenilea chose the harder path — the path of principle,' according to her attorney, Adam Johnson. 'She stood firm, confident that the truth would prevail. And it did.' Johnson said though Pena was falsely accused, 'she never lost faith in the process, in her integrity or in her God.' 'This verdict is more than a legal outcome,' Johnson said 'It is a restoration of reputation, a reaffirmation of character, and a reminder that justice — though sometimes delayed — is still possible. Jenilea and her family endured a long and painful chapter, but they did so with strength, grace and unwavering resolve.'
The Hindu
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Keel laying of third Fleet Support Ship held at L&T Shipyard
The keel laying ceremony of the third Fleet Support Ship (FSS) was held at Larsen & Toubro's (L&T) Shipyard in Kattupalli, Chennai, on Wednesday. The Indian Navy said the event was attended by Vice Admiral Rajaram Swaminathan, Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition, along with senior officials from the Indian Navy, Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), and L&T. The Navy had signed a contract with HSL in August 2023 for the acquisition of five FSS vessels, with deliveries scheduled to commence from mid-2027. Under a public-private partnership model, HSL has sub-contracted the construction of two ships to L&T Shipyard in order to leverage the country's shipbuilding capacity and adhere to tight delivery timelines, the Navy stated. On induction, the FSS vessels — each with a displacement exceeding 40,000 tonnes — will augment the Indian Navy's blue water capabilities by facilitating the replenishment of fleet ships at sea. These ships will carry fuel, water, ammunition, and stores to enable extended and sustained naval operations, enhancing reach and mobility. In a secondary role, the Navy added that the FSS vessels will also be equipped to undertake Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations, including the evacuation of personnel and swift delivery of relief material during natural disasters. The Navy further said that the indigenously designed and constructed warship will be outfitted with equipment sourced from Indian original equipment manufacturers.
Borneo Post
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Miri MP urges comprehensive action six months after floods, landslide
Chiew (right) looks at the damages caused by a landslide during a visit to Hilltop Garden recently. MIRI (June 19): Nearly six months after severe floods and a deadly landslide struck Miri, MP Chiew Choon Man is calling for sustained recovery efforts and long-term mitigation planning to protect the city from future disasters. In a statement today, Chiew stressed that post-disaster work must continue beyond initial aid, highlighting the need for consistent follow-up nearly half a year after heavy rains triggered widespread flooding across Miri and surrounding divisions. The same weather event also caused a deadly landslide at the foot of Canada Hill in Kampung Lereng Bukit, claiming lives and destroying homes. 'This tragedy has tested the resilience of our community. It must serve as a powerful lesson for all of us in building a safer, more prepared Miri,' he said. Chiew thanked government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and the thousands of volunteers who responded during the emergency. He also acknowledged the federal and Sarawak governments for their early support, including the RM1,000 Bantuan Wang Ihsan (BWI) cash aid and initial allocations for repairs and recovery. However, he cautioned that meaningful recovery cannot end with first-response measures. 'It is our collective responsibility to ensure follow-up actions continue and are not just reactive measures when issues go viral,' Chiew said. Chiew urged authorities to ensure that BWI payments are completed fairly and promptly, regardless of whether victims stayed in official Temporary Relief Centres (PPS) or elsewhere. 'No one should be left behind in the recovery process.' He also called for the repair and restoration of flood-damaged homes and infrastructure to be expedited. He emphasised the need for these efforts to follow a clear implementation schedule, with consistent oversight to ensure timely completion. On mitigation, Chiew pressed for the urgent finalisation of a slope safety study for Canada Hill, especially in the affected Kampung Lereng Bukit area, and the immediate implementation of a long-term landslide prevention plan to safeguard surrounding communities. Equally pressing, he said, is the need to accelerate Miri's flood mitigation strategy. This includes drainage upgrades, construction of retention ponds, riverbank reinforcements, and sustainable urban development to reduce the city's exposure to future weather-related disasters. To push for concrete progress, Chiew said he will convene meetings with relevant agencies to obtain updates and intends to raise the matter in Parliament, including requesting additional allocations if current funds fall short. 'Recovery is not just about rebuilding; it's about preventing future disasters. Let this serve as a turning point for Miri to become a safer, more resilient, and inclusive city,' he said. Chiew Choon Man flood landslide miri mitigation planning mp
