(TNS) A man pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering after he attempted to steal more than $1 million in COVID-19 relief funds.

From April 2020 to July 2021, Malcolm Culmer lied about his residence, employment history and business to obtain money from the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, unemployment and Small Business Administration, according to his plea agreement. Court records say Culmer lived in Boone County, and federal officials said he had also lived in Michigan.

In total, Culmer submitted eight Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications through fictitious companies in efforts to steal $1,091,499, according to court documents. More than $187,000 was approved in those loans, which were intended to provide financial assistance to businesses during the pandemic.

Culm

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