By Richard Chumney
Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
(TNS)
(Dec. 15) BRIDGEPORT — A Woodbridge accountant convicted of defrauding a COVID-19 pandemic relief program of more than $2.3 million was sentenced Monday to two years and eight months in prison, federal prosecutors said.
Yasir G. Hamed, 60, of Woodbridge, CT, was also ordered to repay the fraudulently obtained funds and serve three years of supervised release, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut David Sullivan.
The sentence was handed down in Bridgeport federal court about seven months after Hamed pleaded guilty to bank fraud and engaging in illegal monetary transactions for submitting false applications to the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP.
The federal program was established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act in 2020 and was designed to help small businesses by providing forgivable loans for job retention and other expenses during the height of the pandemic.
Sullivan said Hamed overstated employee numbers and average monthly payroll in the PPP applications, which were submitted on behalf of several New Haven-based businesses. He said Hamed also submitted false tax filings that had never been filed with the IRS.
Sullivan said Hamed obtained more than $2.3 million in loans through the scheme, including more than $1 million in loan proceeds for himself and his family, and significant kickbacks from his clients. He said Hamed used the funds for personal expenses, including a down payment on a $880,000 house in Woodbridge that he purchased in October 2020.
“In at least one instance, Hamed convinced the owner of a business, which he knew was not active and had no employees, to seek PPP funding,” Sullivan said. “Hamed prepared the paperwork for the PPP application and then took a significant portion of the loan proceeds.”
Prosecutors identified the companies that Hamed submitted false applications for as Access Consulting and Professional Services Inc.; Connecticut Medical Transportation Inc.; Arabic Language Learning Program Inc.; Institute for Global Educational Exchange Inc.; Access Medical Transport Inc.; Ikea Car & Limo Inc.; Center of the World Tours, North America LLC.; and Sudanese American Friendship Association Inc.
Sullivan said Hamed was arrested and charged in the scheme on Nov. 13, 2024. He said Hamed is currently released on a $500,000 bond and is required to report to prison on Jan. 28.
Photo credit: serggn/iStock
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© 2025 Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn. Visit www.journalinquirer.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency LLC.
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