In a case that highlights the abuse of COVID-19 pandemic relief funds, Todd Kreykes, a physician assistant from Northern Michigan, has admitted to misappropriating federal money to finance a lifestyle of luxury typically reserved for those not reliant on the public purse. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Michigan, Kreykes has agreed to plead guilty to charges of theft of government property, which could land him in prison for up to a decade.
Between April 2020 and November 2021, Kreykes' medical practice, the Boardman Family Practice, received over $294,000 from federal aid programs, including the CARES Act. The financial aid was intended to support health services during the height of the pandemic crisis. However, as noted by WWJ 950 Newsradio and echoed in details from a Department of Justice release, Kreykes chose to spend over $200,000 of the relief on various personal indulgencies such as a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, a new truck, luxury vacations, and home renovations, blatantly flouting the stipulated terms and conditions of the programs.
"Every dollar that Todd Kreykes spent on luxury goods and vacations was one less dollar to help businesses struggling during the pandemic," U.S. Attorney Mark Totten stated, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Michigan, highlighting the impact of such misuse. Special Agent in Charge with the HHS-OIG, Mario M. Pinto, underscored the severity of misappropriating funds that were meant to sustain medical services during an unprecedented public health crisis saying, "Providers who misappropriated federal funds intended to offset costs associated with medical services during the COVID-19 public health emergency showed disregard for taxpayers and the individuals relying on these vital programs".
The actions of Kreykes and the legal proceedings that have followed serve as a stark reminder and a warning to others who might consider diverting emergency funds away from their intended purpose. In addition to the plea agreement, Kreykes has committed to making full restitution to the involved federal pandemic programs before his sentencing hearing. His case was investigated by the Health and Human Service Office of Inspector General and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Stella prosecuting.
