On Friday, a federal jury found a Colorado physician guilty of misappropriating approximately $250,000 from two separate COVID-19 relief programs.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Dr. Francis F. Joseph, 57, of Highlands Ranch, received government funds for COVID-19 relief from the Accelerated and Advance Payment Program and the Paycheck Protection Program. Each program was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to medical providers and small businesses who were suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. In all, Joseph received approximately $250,000 from these funds and fraudulently used the money to pay for his own personal expenses, and not in accordance with the terms of the relief programs.
Joseph was convicted in the District of Colorado of theft in connection with healthcare and wire fraud. The jury acquitted Joseph of theft of government property related to a separate Covid-relief payment. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the wire-fraud count. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Curt Muller of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Kansas City Region; and Special Agent in Charge Weston King of the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG), Western Region made the announcement.
The HHS-OIG and SBA-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Jennifer Bilinkas and John J. Liolos of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.