PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – More than $2.5 million was collected from a real estate developer for fraudulently obtained COVID-19 relief program funds and money laundering, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
Michael James DeFrees, 63, of Vancouver, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for submitting applications and obtaining Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Paycheck Protection Program Loans under false pretenses between 2020 and 2022, according to court documents.
DeFrees was also ordered to forfeit $1.2 million and pay $1,346,481 in restitution to the U.S. Small Business Administration…