YOU MAY HAVE SEEN TODD SPODEK ON THE NETFLIX SHOW INVENTING ANNA
When you’re facing a federal issue, you need an attorney whose going to be available 24/7 to help you get the results and outcome you need. The value of working with the Spodek Law Group is that we treat each and every client like a member of our family.
NJ SBA Fraud / PPP Loan Fraud Defense Lawyers
SBA Fraud / PPP Loan Fraud Defense
What happens if a company is prosecuted for PPP loan fraud? What exactly is PPP loan fraud, and what can you do to clear the charges?
The CARES Act was made law on March 27, 2020. This coronavirus stimulus package provided relief to small business owners and Americans who had lost their jobs. The goal was to help people be economically secure until the coronavirus pandemic ended. One of the biggest pieces of the CARES legislation was the Paycheck Protection Program, otherwise known as the PPP.
The PPP was given almost 350 billion dollars in federal funding. It was designed to give relief to small businesses and mid-size businesses that could not continue paying their employees due to the financial strain from the coronavirus impact.
Even though there were hundreds of billions of dollars in aid, the funding was all gone minutes after it was made available. Applications flooded in to the government asking for relief. Companies that ought to have been eligible were left with nothing because there were no funds left to give them.
If you are looking for a lawyer that listens, is aggressive where needed, and holds his word above all else, Todd is the best pick. I had hired multiple attorneys prior to hiring the Spodek Group for a white collar case. The first thing that stood out to me was the cost, as anyone going through the process and dealing with the system, money was tight at that time - especially after hiring and firing multiple lawyers. The cost was not as high as others which was definitely a plus. Todd's intake process was also unlike other attorneys. He took the time to actually listen. He cared. He was trying to put himself in my shoes while I was explaining the situation to him and he really took the time to understand the whole situation. Other lawyers will give you 15 mins and send you a retainer agreement. Not Todd, I think he spent almost two hours with me as I was explaining everything.Not only was he great during the onboarding process, he was supportive and very informative through the entire plea process and eventually sentencing. After hiring him, I asked if I should hire a prison consultant, he told me to save my money as he would do everything they would. He was right and held up to his word. Later on I would hear from others that went with the prison consultants that they were a waste of money - I am glad I listened to Todd!When it came time for sentencing, two days prior to sentencing, the prosecutor tried increasing my proposed prison time by almost double - apparently a normal move. Todd and his team worked with me non-stop through the weekend prior to sentencing to ensure that I was not given additional prison time. Again, he took the time to listen and came up with a strategy to explain the case with great detail.Unfortunately, I did plead guilty as that was my best option. Todd and his whole team wrote up nearly 300 pages of a summary of what happened and why I should not be given prison time. If I breakdown the amount I spent with Todd versus the amount of work that I saw being done, I am shocked I was not charged four times as much. The other benefit was, a lot of criminal defense lawyers were just a single attorney with a paralegal or two. Todd had a team of people that I dealt with (5-7 people that I interacted with), but he was ALWAYS accessible. It would never take him more than an hour to reply unless he was in court.I was sentenced to prison and I was emotionally distraught. Todd and his team did whatever they could even after sentencing to make sure I was alright. He personally stayed in touch with my family to ensure I was doing alright and offered support to them. Most lawyers would consider the job complete at sentencing, not Todd.After prison, Todd still spent time with me to make sure I was on the right track and avoiding any potential risks in the future. He has also been giving advice on how to navigate probation etc and has not been looking at the clock for billing.Although I wish I had never been arrested in the first place, I am glad I had Todd and his team in my corner. Without them I likely would have had to spend a lot more time in prison than I did.Thank you, Todd, and the entire Spodek Law team, for helping turn what was a nightmare into a manageable situation!
I am immensely grateful to the entire team at Spodek Law Group for their unwavering dedication and exceptional expertise throughout my case. From our initial consultation to the final resolution, their professionalism and tireless advocacy made all the difference. Their strategic approach and attention to detail instilled confidence in me every step of the way.Thanks to their hard work and commitment, we achieved a truly favorable outcome that exceeded my expectations. Not only did they navigate the complexities of my case with precision, but they also provided invaluable support and guidance during what was undoubtedly a challenging time. I cannot recommend Spodek Law Group highly enough, especially attorneys Todd Spodek and Claire Banks; they are beacons of excellence in the legal profession.YSP.
Todd, Ralph and Alex are amazing. Helped my husband get from a double digit number with multiple charges to a single digit, by the time I blink he will be out. They very professional and help with all your needs. They dealt with my anxiety and worry very well and they understand that your family member needs to get home as soon as possible.
Believe every single review here about Alex Z!! From our initial consultation, it was evident that Alex possessed a profound understanding of criminal law and a fierce dedication to his clients rights. Throughout the entirety of my case, Alex exhibited unparalleled professionalism and unwavering commitment. What sets Alex apart is not only his legal expertise but also his genuine compassion for his clients. He took the time to thoroughly explain my case, alleviating any concerns I had along the way. His exact words were “I’m not worried about it”. His unwavering support and guidance were invaluable throughout the entire process. I am immensely grateful for Alex's exceptional legal representation and wholeheartedly recommend his services to anyone in need of a skilled criminal defense attorney. Alex Z is not just a lawyer; he is a beacon of hope for those navigating the complexities of the legal system. If you find yourself in need of a dedicated and competent legal advocate, look no further than Alex Z.
I don’t know where to start, I can write a novel about this firm, but one thing I will say is that having my best interest was their main priority since the beginning of my case which was back in Winter 2019. Miss Claire Banks, one of the best Attorneys in the firm represented me very well and was very professional, respectful, and truthful. Not once did she leave me in the dark, in fact she presented all options and routes that could possibly be considered for my case and she reinsured me that no matter what I decided to do, her and the team will have my back and that’s exactly what happened. Not only will I be liberated from this case, also, I will enjoy my freedom and continue to be a mother to my first born son and will have no restrictions with accomplishing my goals in life. Now that’s what I call victory!! I thank the Lord, My mother, Claire, and the Spodek team for standing by me and fighting with me. Words can’t describe how grateful I am to have the opportunity to work with this team. I’m very satisfied, very pleased with their performance, their hard work, and their diligence.Thank you team!
I recently had Spodek Law Group represent me for a legal matter in NYC and I am thoroughly impressed with their services.Alex Zhik secured the best possible outcome for my case.It was a seamless journey from the initial consultation to the resolution of my legal matter. From the moment I spoke to Todd about my case, his enthusiasm to help was evident, setting a positive tone for the entire experience. The efficiency and professionalism displayed by the team is commendable.A particularly noteworthy aspect of their service is their user-friendly portal to upload your documents/evidence. This not only simplified the process, but showcases their commitment to streamline the client experience.Lastly, in an industry where legal fees can often be a concern, I found their pricing to be very reasonable, making needing legal assistance feel accessible and stress-free.I am grateful for their support and wouldn't hesitate to turn to them again in the future.
Federal programs that provide financial relief will always be accused of fraud. But the scrutiny is even heavier regarding the PPP. Since the funds were depleted so quickly, companies that were able to receive PPP funding will be scrutinized by federal officials to be sure they haven’t taken money that could have been used for a more deserving business.
Fraud Concerns Identified
Many people have criticized the setup of the PPP system, and various concerns about fraud have been raised. Right now, the federal government is taking input on how to offer better protection with future programs, as well as how to combat the issues that were seen with PPP.
Part of the fraud concern is because of how disjointed the application process was. But there are other fraud concerns as well. Certain federal agencies are currently going through the businesses that received federal aid and working to identify those that received funds under false pretenses. It’s very likely that these businesses will be prosecuted, since the PPP was so widely criticized for how quickly it was depleted.
If a company is accused of receiving fraudulent federal aid, it’s important that they speak to a lawyer who is experienced in working with the federal government.
Types of PPP Fraud
Any federal program can be subject to fraud. Various application omissions and financial acts can be constituted as fraud. Where the PPP is concerned, fraud may be incurred in both inadvertent mistakes and intentional misrepresentations. Even if you didn’t mean to make the error, your business still received fraudulent federal funding that could have gone to someone else.
One of the fraud iterations is “stacking” your loans. If applicants received loans from several different lenders, they are guilty of fraud. People are only supposed to have loans from one lender. The additional money should have been given back to the government rather than distributed.
According to the federal government, investigators intend to focus on this kind of fraud. It’s one of the easiest types of fraud to trace, since government officials can see who received funds from different lenders.
Another form of fraud is submitting false information on the loan application. To be eligible for the relief, you needed to meet certain criteria. If your company didn’t actually meet all the criteria, but you misrepresented your application so it looked like it did, you might also be subject to fraud charges.
Companies may have misrepresented how many employees they had, whether their employees were independent contractors, whether the business met the small business eligibility requirements, and what the company’s payroll costs were. All of these things may have gotten a business approved when it shouldn’t have been, or gotten a business a larger loan than it should have received.
Applicants also needed to certify certain facts before submitting. If you falsely certified these facts, you may be charged with fraud. You needed to certify that the loan was necessary for the operation of your business, that the funds would be used for your payroll or mortgage, that you would only receive one loan, and that you submitted accurate information in your application.
