>>> A NEW WATCHDOG WORK FINDS 14 EMPLOYEES AND OFFICIALS OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS FRAUDULENTLY OBTAINED PPP LOANS WORTH UP TO $21,000.
JIM, MATT MASTERSON JOINS US NOW.
THIS WAS INTENDED AS PANDEMIC RELIEF DURING THE COVID-19 SHUTDOWN.
WHAT DID THE WATCHDOG REPORT FIND ON THESE 14 PEOPLE?
>> THE INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THE EMPLOYEES AT FALSIFIED INFORMATION, AND THE INVESTIGATION CAUGHT THEM LYING ABOUT RUNNING ON IT DISTANT BUSINESSES, AND NON-CPS RELATED INCOME THAT THEY HAD EARNED.
SOME REPORTED THAT THEY HAD EARNED $100,000, AND WHEN CONFRONTED WITH THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, THEY ADMITTED THAT THIS WAS ALL A RUSE TO DEFUND THIS APPLICATION TO GET THIS LOAN.
MOST OF THE LOANS WERE AROUND THE $20,000 RANGE, BUT FOR THESE 14 SPECIFIC EMPLOYEES, THESE ARE DISTRICT OFFICIALS, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, CENTRAL OFFICE PERSONNEL WHO, ALMOST ALL OF THEM HAD SALARIES THAT RANGED INTO THE SIX FIGURES COMING FROM CPS.
SO 12 OF THESE EMPLOYEES -- EIGHT OF THEM RESIGNED AND FOUR MORE HAVE BEEN TERMINATED.
THE DISTRICT ALSO PLACED A HOLD DESIGNATION ON THE EMPLOYEES PERSONNEL RECORD.
OF THE REMAINING 2, CPS SAYS IT HAS FILED SPECIAL CHARGES IN THE PROCESS FOR HANDLING THAT IS STILL ONGOING.
PPP LOAN FRAUD WAS VERY WIDESPREAD IN CHICAGO, AND ALL OVER THE PLACE DURING THE PANDEMIC.
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE HAS RECOMMENDED TO CPS THAT, AGAIN, REQUIRING FOR PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES FOR PANDEMIC RELIEF FUNDING WHILE BEING ON CPS.
THEY SAY THEY WILL REVIEW THAT RECOMMENDATION, BUT THEY HAVEN'T GOTTEN IT READY YET.
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE SAID THAT IT IS COMING TO A CLOSE ON SEVERAL MORE PPP FRAUD INVESTIGATIONS THAT ARE STILL ONGOING, AND THEY ARE IN CONNECTION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT ABOUT THIS, AS WELL.
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