A Brooklyn woman has been sentenced in a fraudulent scheme to quickly obtain COVID-19 small business recovery grants. According to a statement from the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office, she acquired more than $69,000 through falsified records. Suzanne Gilad, 54, pleaded guilty to second-degree falsifying business records in connection with the fraud.
District Attorney Eric Gonzalez remarked, "This defendant took advantage of a public health crisis by falsifying records to secure government aid that was meant to keep struggling small businesses afloat." Gilad submitted multiple fraudulent applications for grants offered by the New York State Empire State Development, using falsified copies of federal business income tax returns on behalf of three companies she controlled. Inspector General Lucy Lang added that such abuse during any time constitutes a crime against both the government and individuals in need, as per the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office.
Gilad was handed a conditional discharge by Brooklyn Criminal Court Judge Janet McDonnell and ordered to complete 210 hours of community service, documentation of which she has provided to the court. She has also reimbursed the State for the funds she wrongfully obtained. The evidence indicated that between December 2021 and January 2022, Gilad filed fraudulent grant applications resulting in her receiving approximately $69,099, which was then transferred into her personal accounts.
Assistant District Attorneys Kirsten Tamayo of the District Attorney's Fraud Bureau and Adam Libove, Deputy Chief of the Public Integrity Bureau, prosecuted the case. They were supervised by higher-ups in the Investigations Division.
