Mead man sentenced to prison for stealing covid relief funds

MEAD, Wash. — A U.S. District judge sentenced a Mead man to 45 months in federal prison for stealing more than $750,000 in covid relief funds.

According to the U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref, 55-year-old Antonio Crawford filed false tax and business documents in order to get Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan program funds.

Waldref says Crawford received almost $200,000 using fraudulent documents for four businesses owned by Crawford.

While searching his home, law enforcement recovered a laptop that showed Crawford also worked with others to submit fraudulent documents on their behalf totaling more than $500,000. He also received payments for doing so.

A judge ordered Crawford to 45 months in prison plus five years of supervised release, restitution of more than $200,000 and forfeiture of nearly $200,000 in cash and assets.

“Fighting fraud strengthens our communities by protecting our small and local businesses and hard-working people who play by the rules. Mr. Crawford took advantage of programs designed to help businesses struggling during a global pandemic and used the funds to enrich himself and others,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref. “My office has built strong relationships with our law enforcement partners through our COVID Fraud Strike Force to vigorously prosecute those who abuse and misuse pandemic relief funding.”