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Collins was indicted by the federal government on 16 charges related to the misuse of $633,718 in PPP funds during the pandemic. The criminal charges carry up to 30 years in prison for fraud and up to 10 years for money laundering. Mr. Collins has pleaded not guilty. Collins’ PPP loans to his real estate company and child care provider were forgiven. Other loans were not.
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The tax lien is the latest in a legal turmoil that began late last year with 16 federal charges of bank fraud and money laundering related to the pandemic-era Paycheck Protection Program.
The owner of a Pennsylvania real estate company is facing a $1.7 million lien from the Internal Revenue Service. This is the latest step in a legal saga that began late last year with 16 federal charges of bank fraud and money laundering related to the pandemic-era Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
The Erie Times News reported that Aaron B. Collins’ criminal complaint, unsealed in February, alleges that he used $633,718 in PPP funds for “personal expenses for the benefit of himself and his family,” including the purchase of a car and virtual currency.
The tax lien, part of a separate civil lawsuit from the criminal fraud case, was filed in late March against Collins’ real estate company, Garner Blake Real Estate LLC, for $1,692,796.
All of the criminal charges against Collins are felonies, with potential sentences of up to 30 years on each of the five fraud charges and up to 10 years on each of the 11 money laundering charges.
In addition to his real estate business, Collins is also suspected of applying for PPP loans related to Awareness Ministries, Inc., a “social advocacy organization,” and Push Forward LLC, a child care provider. Records show that PPP loans to Push Forward and Garner Blake Real Estate were forgiven, but the loan to Awareness Ministries was not.
The tax lien was filed only against Collins’ real estate company and was for unpaid payroll taxes for 2019 and 2020.
Collins pleaded not guilty at his Feb. 4 arraignment and is currently free on $10,000 bail. He is being represented by members of the federal public defender’s office.
Collins is a former Penn State football player, former executive director of Community Country Day School and assistant basketball coach at Erie First Christian Academy.
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