A former USAID IT employee admitted in federal court to scheming to steal more than $176,000 in CARES Act relief by submitting fraudulent PPP and EIDL applications, using fake documents and directing proceeds into accounts he controlled; the case is tied to the Trump Administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and will be prosecuted by the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Simeon Bakare, 55, of Waldorf, Maryland, pleaded guilty to wire-fraud charges for his role in the scheme. He had worked on information technology matters for the U.S. Agency for International Development and now faces criminal penalties for his actions. The deception spanned pandemic relief programs set up to shield small businesses and workers during a national emergency.
The prosecution was announced by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, alongside Acting Special Agent in Charge Eduardo Santos of the USAID Office of Inspector General. USAID OIG remains an independent law enforcement body with authority to investigate crimes affecting U.S. foreign assistance programs. This case is being handled publicly as part of a broader federal push to stop theft from emergency relief programs.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act created emergency aid like the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program to help small businesses survive the pandemic. Those programs were intended to provide forgivable loans and emergency cash for payroll and operating costs. Criminal misuse of those funds undermines confidence in relief efforts and diverts resources away from legitimate claimants.
According to the plea, the fraud began in April 2020 and continued through November 2021. Bakare admitted submitting at least five false loan applications for EIDL and PPP benefits and used fabricated supporting documents, including fake IRS Schedule C Forms and false attestations claiming sole proprietorships. He then caused the deposits of EIDL and PPP proceeds into bank accounts he controlled to conceal the theft.
Investigators found that the businesses listed on those applications had no meaningful employees, no office space, negligible revenues, and no real business activity. Bakare used the stolen funds for personal expenses such as car payments, housing costs, and groceries rather than legitimate business payroll or operating needs. The pattern of false attestations and sham paperwork was central to how the scheme moved money out of pandemic relief programs.
Wire fraud carries serious consequences; Bakare faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Thursday, September 3, at 9:30 a.m. The government’s case highlights both individual accountability and the need to deter others who view emergency aid programs as an opportunity for personal gain.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division, known in documents as the “Fraud Division.” That unit focuses on rooting out fraud against the American people and coordinates high-priority investigations across federal agencies. Officials link this prosecution to the broader Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort led by Vice President J.D. Vance to cut down on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal benefit programs.
U.S. Attorney Hayes publicly commended USAID OIG for its investigative work and acknowledged the prosecutors assigned to the case, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared M. Beim and Joseph L. Wenner. Their role underscores that successful prosecutions often depend on detailed financial forensics and interagency cooperation. The case is being used as an example of aggressive enforcement intended to protect legitimate beneficiaries of federal aid.
Federal officials urge anyone with information about suspected fraud in pandemic relief programs to contact the appropriate law enforcement agencies or local U.S. Attorney’s offices. Public reporting and vigorous prosecutions are the practical tools available to restore integrity to emergency assistance programs and make sure help reaches those who truly need it.
