Sussex County Resident Indicted in Multimillion-Dollar COVID-19 Relief Fraud

Nikenson Jean Mathurin faces charges of wire fraud and money laundering after allegedly exploiting federal pandemic relief programs.

In a significant legal development, Nikenson Jean Mathurin, a 44-year-old resident of Sparta, New Jersey, was formally indicted today on multiple counts of wire fraud and money laundering. The charges stem from his alleged fraudulent activities involving the acquisition of millions in federal COVID-19 relief funds, according to U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger.

Mathurin is accused of orchestrating a complex fraud scheme from April 2020 through November 2022. He allegedly submitted numerous fraudulent applications for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), claiming inflated payroll costs, revenues, and employee numbers for several fictitious businesses. These applications were reportedly bolstered by counterfeit tax documents, leading to the illegal receipt of substantial emergency relief funds intended to support struggling businesses during the pandemic.

The investigation, led by the Northeast Region of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General, and IRS – Criminal Investigation, pinpointed the fraudulent transactions that could result in up to 20 years in prison for each wire fraud charge and 10 years for the money laundering charge. Each count also carries potential fines up to $250,000, or double the gross gain or loss.

This case highlights the broader efforts of the District of New Jersey COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force, part of a nationwide initiative to combat pandemic-related fraud. These strike forces focus on large-scale, complex fraud cases and are a collaborative effort among various federal agencies.

As the legal proceedings unfold, Mathurin remains innocent until proven guilty. The public is encouraged to report any suspected COVID-19 fraud to the National Center for Disaster Fraud.