Many people have existential thoughts at some point in their life. Those questions like “Who am I?” and “What is my purpose in life?” For most people, questions invoke a few intrusive thoughts about the meaning of life that usually passes! However, existential thoughts can become a existential crisis often during major life events, much like Clayton Rosenberg is in right now. While in court facing COVID-19 loan fraud charges, his response was “I’m not that person.” However, evidence says otherwise.
In 2021, Rosenberg said he was approached with an “opportunity,” to steal from COVID relief programs. The opportunity was to prepare and submit fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loan applications for businesses. Which caused at least $9.3 million in fraudulent proceeds. During this time, Rosenberg and a co-conspirator controlled various shell companies to which the business owners would transfer a percentage of the PPP loan proceeds. Rosenberg claims he was just helping the people. A modern-day Robin Hood. “I knew this was a wrong situation, but I tried to see good in the wrong. I tried to see that at least I could say that I helped a business owner out that naturally, they didn’t know how to get approval.” Noble. It doesn’t explain why he spent his illicit gains on luxury vehicle purchases and expensive beard care products.
And it also doesn’t explain why Rosenberg submitted fraudulent Unemployment Insurance applications using other individuals’ personal identifying information (PII) that he obtained online. Rosenberg applied for and received over $110,308 in fraudulent unemployment benefits. Rosenberg possessed device-making equipment in his residence, including equipment to create fraudulent documents, black check paper, card stock for IDs, holograms used for passports and driver licenses, at least six fraudulent Social Security cards, and at least eight fake driver licenses. Evidence which seems to help answer the question “Who am I?” A fraudster.
Shout out to the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division in this case.
Today’s Fraud of The Day is based on article “I’m not that person’ | DC ANC Clayton Rosenberg apologizes for stealing from pandemic relief programs” published by WUSA News on August 22, 2024.
DC Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Clayton Rosenberg was sentenced to five years and three months in prison for wire fraud. Before becoming a commissioner, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia said Rosenberg and his co-conspirators submitted fraudulent applications to steal from multiple pandemic relief programs.
One program Rosenberg defrauded was the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for small businesses. This program provided loans to small businesses to stay afloat.
