A Brooklyn man faces serious charges after being accused of swindling over $100,000 in COVID-19 relief funds and attempting to deceive voters with a fraudulent election petition, according to authorities. Khaled Salem, 53, from Bay Ridge, has been indicted by Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, in coordination with New York State Attorney General Letitia James. The indictment involves second-degree grand larceny, identity theft, and charges related to violating New York State Election Law.
The Brooklyn District Attorney's Office stated that Salem's alleged misconduct involved the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and falsifying documents to appear on the 2024 Democratic primary ballot for U.S. Senate. Salem's fraudulent activities supposedly began with a PPP loan application for his nonprofit, filed in April 2020, resulting in a payout of $104,166 the following year. The loan forgiveness application was later called into question when supposed payroll expenses and listed employees did not match up with reality.
In a separate incident, Salem purportedly submitted a hefty 12-volume, 5,900-page petition consisting of roughly 30,000 signatures to the New York State Board of Elections. This attempt was to secure a spot in the Democratic primary, yet the signatures were allegedly forged, with subscribing witnesses denying any involvement. Consequently, Salem failed to make it onto the ballot. District Attorney Gonzalez underscored the gravity of these allegations, emphasizing the safeguarding of public resources and the democratic process, as reported by the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office.
Attorney General Letitia James, reinforcing the common sentiment, stated, "New Yorkers must be able to trust that our democracy and our economy are protected from fraud." James acknowledged the importance of the collaborative efforts between the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office, the New York State Board of Elections, and her own office in bringing these charges to light. Each office expressed commitment to holding individuals accountable who tries to undermine public trust and exploit critical aid systems.
Amidst the legal proceedings, Salem has been released without bail and is scheduled to return to court on September 24, 2025. The prosecution team is led by Assistant District Attorney Adam Libove, with support from high-ranking members of the District Attorney’s Public Integrity Bureau and the Investigations Division.
