California woman charged over alleged 18 million dollar pandemic fraud

Federal authorities charged a Los Angeles woman on Tuesday for her alleged role in an 18 million dollar coronavirus relief scheme. The New York Post reported that 53 year old Marisela Nuno allegedly defrauded two emergency small business relief programs designed to help businesses during the pandemic. [1]

According to court documents cited by the New York Post, the United States Department of Justice accused Nuno of defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. Prosecutors stated that she submitted false and fraudulent loan applications that collectively sought more than 15 million dollars. [1]

Both relief initiatives were federal stimulus programs authorized as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The federal government established the programs to aid small businesses facing financial difficulty during the pandemic. [1]

California became the 31st state in the United States on September 9, 1850, following the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill in 1848. [5]