M.A. Yah, a 64-year-old resident of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on March 25 in federal court for making a false statement to the Small Business Administration, according to an April 13 announcement by United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr., ordered Yah to serve five years’ probation and pay $111,723.07 in restitution as part of his sentence.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by authorities to address fraudulent activity related to pandemic relief programs such as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). These programs were established to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic but have also seen instances of misuse.
According to court documents, Yah is the director of The Heartland News, a non-profit newspaper incorporated in Nebraska since 2010 that focuses on serving the homeless community. On May 1, 2020, Yah applied for a PPP loan totaling $100,800 through an unnamed financial institution. As part of his application process, he certified that The Heartland News had paid payroll taxes for its employees—a statement he knew was not true.
The PPP required applicants to certify details about their business operations and payroll expenses in order to determine eligibility and loan amounts. The amount available under this program depended on verified average monthly payroll costs and other criteria set forth by the Small Business Administration.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading up to Yah’s sentencing.
