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Brian DePena Charged Over $1.5M COVID Loan Fraud

8/15/2026

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Story summary
  • Brian DePena was arrested and charged with wire fraud and money laundering over $1.5 million in COVID-19 small-business loans.
  • Documents say $350,000 in Economic Injury Disaster Loan funds were deposited on Aug. 16, 2021, with DePena allegedly paying $85,000, transferring $120,000, and writing $90,000 in campaign checks.
  • After the SBA raised the loan to $1,654,400 on Oct. 27, 2021, DePena allegedly moved $1,154,188 to an account on Nov. 30, 2021 and wrote $42,112.96 in checks on Dec. 2, 2021.