WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A former Wheeling business owner has admitted to fraud totaling nearly $300,000 in COVID relief funds, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
Bradley Temple, 48, of Delray Beach, Florida (formerly of Wheeling, WV), pled guilty to unlawful money transactions. According to court documents and statements made in court, Temple, who operated Righteous Brother’s Trucking, applied for and received both a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan and an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) authorized by the CARES Act to assist small businesses and individuals who suffered substantial financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Temple made false representations regarding the business to obtain $277,456 in loans. Temple then used those funds for personal or non-permissible expenses, including obtaining a $40,000 cashier’s check to purchase a vehicle.
Temple is facing up to 10 years in prison and will be required to pay restitution. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors…