DENVER (KDVR) — A former Denver restaurant owner was sentenced to 2.5 years in federal prison for fraudulent COVID-relief loan applications and failing to pay employee tax withholdings.
The case, handled in the Chicago area by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, stemmed from 45-year-old Jared Leonard of Littleton’s fraudulent scheme in 2020 and 2021 to get over $2.3 million in small business loans and grants through COVID-relief programs.
According to a release, Leonard submitted at least 10 fraudulent applications on behalf of his restaurant business, each containing false statements and inaccurate depictions of his business operations. The Denver FBI said Leonard was the former owner of AJ’s Pitt BBQ in Denver…