FLORIDA MAN SENTENCED FOR WIRE FRAUD RELATED TO RECEIPT OF PANDEMIC LOAN

Alain Galette, a resident of Miami, Florida, was sentenced on January 31, 2023, in U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, to 13 months in prison, two years of probation, and was ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution to the Small Business Administration. He previously pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in relation to his application for a Payroll Program Protection (PPP) loan and in obtaining an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) in the amount of $149,900. The PPP loan was in the amount of $163,577 but was denied. Our investigation found that Galette used an invalid social security number and included other false information on the PPP and EIDL applications. Upon receipt of the EIDL funds, Galette did not use the money for authorized purposes.