An Ithaca man has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for pandemic-related loan fraud, according to the U.S. District Attorney’s Office. Ejembi Onah, 61, was convicted on two counts of wire fraud and three counts of transacting in criminally derived property. In addition to his prison term, Onah was ordered to serve two years of supervised release and pay $218,983.32 in restitution.
During his trial, evidence showed that Onah submitted fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications in June 2020, claiming false payroll and employee numbers for a nanotechnology business. He secured over $140,000 through these loans by falsifying tax returns.
The funds were used for personal expenses, including paying back rent, leasing a luxury car, and covering daily living costs. Onah’s sentence reflects the government’s continued crackdown on pandemic-related fraud.
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