A Washington tech executive charged in a scheme to obtain more than $5.5 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and launder the proceeds pled guilty on Monday.
Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman for the Western District of Washington announced in a Department of Justice news release that Mukund Mohan, 48, of Clyde Hill, Wash., submitted at least eight fraudulent PPP loan applications on behalf of six different companies to federally insured financial institutions.
In support of the fraudulent loan applications, Mohan made numerous false and misleading statements about the companies’ respective business operations and payroll expenses, according to the DOJ.
Mohan submitted fake and altered documents, including fake federal tax filings and altered incorporation documents, and misrepresented to a lender, for example, that in 2019 his company Mahenjo Inc., had dozens of employees and paid millions of dollars in employee wages and payroll taxes. In truth, Mohan purchased Mahenjo on the internet in May 2020 and, at the time he purchased the company, it had no employees and no business activity.
Mohan’s prior tech experience includes a stint at Amazon Business, where he was director of product management. He was also previously director of Microsoft Ventures and the director of engineering for Microsoft’s cloud and enterprise business.
Mohan was charged in July 2020 and is scheduled for sentencing on July 20. Under the terms of the plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend the low end of the federal sentencing guidelines range, according to the DOJ. Both prosecution and defense will recommend that Mohan pay a $100,000 fine in addition to his restitution obligation.
Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Money laundering is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
