An Easton man was convicted of wire fraud and other charges related to the misuse of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds, the United States Attorney's Office announced. Bill Dessaps, 49, who ran a used car dealership in Abington, was found guilty of two counts of wire fraud conspiracy, one count of money laundering, and one count of bank fraud. The U.S. Department of Justice reported that the trial lasted eight days and sentencing is set for January 15, 2026.
Dessaps, as detailed by the prosecution, had put together a fraudulent PPP loan application, claiming his dealership had 40 employees with monthly expenses of over $334,000. Having received $836,800 from this application, the man then bought a $750,000 home illicitly, in his relative's name because he could not secure favorable mortgage terms due to his own poor credit score. According to the Justice Department's release, after the funds were received, Dessaps made kickback payments to accomplices who aided with the application.
The conviction was lauded by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley, who stated, "Dessaps sought to defraud the American people through his misappropriation of COVID-19 relief loans. He scammed to enrich himself, at the expense of people in need" – highlighting the exploitation of a national crisis for personal gain. IRS Special Agent Thomas Demeo echoed Foley's sentiment, pointing out how Dessaps lived a "lavish lifestyle" while others suffered, a sentiment captured in the statement from the Department of Justice.
Defrauded a program designed to help during the pandemic's height, the authority has announced the fight against such fraudsters as Dessaps will continue. Federal prosecutors David M. Holcomb and Meghan C. Cleary are managing the case. In the aftermath of receiving the first loan, Dessaps also attempted to get additional PPP funds through a subsequent fraudulent application in March 2021. The charges he faces could result in decades in prison and significant fines, reflecting the gravity of the crimes.
The COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force is an initiative by the Department of Justice, set up in response to such fraudulent activities during the pandemic, as part of a broader effort to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. Public assistance is also solicited in identifying and reporting potential fraud related to COVID-19 programs, with contact information provided for the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline and an online complaint form available.
