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April 1, 2022

Feds: Oxford couple used COVID-relief money for Florida real estate

PHOTO | Pixabay.com
By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo

Two Oxford residents have paid the federal government $169,563 to resolve allegations that they used COVID relief loan money for personal use, instead of using it to help their family’s Monroe-based hair salon.

Janine E. Carbonaro and Gerard Carbonaro paid the money as part of a civil settlement. According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, they fraudulently misspent $109,000 in small business loans and grant advances which they had obtained through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES.

Janine Carbonaro is the sole proprietor for the salon Hair Attraction Design Team in Monroe.

The Carbonaros were required to use any CARES funding toward the business’ operating expenses.

Instead, they used the money to pay off a mortgage of a residential property in Florida, and to purchase another residential property in the Sunshine State as an investment, according to the government.

Leonard C. Boyle, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut, said, “The Justice Department and our federal investigative partners continue to uncover those who violated the terms of CARES Act business loan programs and misused the funds they received, and we are committed to pursuing civil or criminal penalties against wrongdoers.”

David Sundberg, special agent in charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, said investigators will continue to fight COVID relief fraud. 

“These individuals, motivated by greed, chose to defraud programs intended to bring relief to those in need,” Sundberg said. 

The settlement includes repaying the original amount the pair received, plus interest and penalties. 

To report suspected fraud, contact the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or fill out an online complaint form HERE.

Contact Michelle Tuccitto Sullo at msullo@newhavenbiz.com.

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