Shahied Golden lied to obtain funds, used proceeds for personal benefit
BANGOR, Maine — Shahied Golden, 29, of Lewiston, pleaded guilty Sept. 27 in U.S. District Court in Bangor after a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) probe into a fraudulent application for a loan from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
According to court records, Golden filed a fraudulent PPP loan application in April 2021 and received approximately $20,833 in PPP funds. The application listed a false gross income for 2020 and falsely stated the loan proceeds were needed to make payroll payments for his alleged business. He also submitted a fraudulent document in support of his application, which falsely stated his gross income, among other things. Further, Golden caused the funds to be deposited into his own personal bank account, quickly withdrew the funds, and did not use the PPP proceeds for approved expenses.
Golden faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
HSI’s Bangor Resident Agent in Charge office investigated the case.
HSI is the U.S. government’s leader in investigating identity and benefit fraud. We are committed to finding and prosecuting criminals who prey on our people and systems for illegal access to benefits. HSI and its partners continue to target the criminal organizations behind these schemes and arrest those responsible.