Pennsylvania Woman Pleads Guilty To Wire Fraud Conspiracy

CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Dawn Emanuel, 48, of Easton, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire before Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell T. Ippolito, Jr., who is handling the case, stated that Emanuel conspired with others to apply for and obtain Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) during the COVID pandemic, to which she and her co-conspirators were not entitled. Emanuel completed and filed EIDL applications that contained false representations in order to obtain loan proceeds for others who were not qualified to receive such loans. In return for her role in the conspiracy, Emanuel received a percentage of the loan proceeds, totaling approximately $127,348. The total loss amount to the government was approximately $900,000.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Thomas Fattorusso, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Darren Cox.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 7, 2023, before Judge Skretny.

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