2 Okla. Men Charged With Fraudulently Applying For Small Business COVID-19 Relief Loans

The United States Attorney's Office said two Green Country men have been charged with fraudulently applying for small business loans granted through the federal COVID-19 relief package earlier in 2020.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, the suspects have differing charges but worked together to carry out the schemes.

Officials said Rafael Maturino of Broken Arrow applied for a PPP loan for a company he claimed to own, but submitted forms that misrepresented the company's payroll, the amount of taxes paid and the number of employees. As a result, Maturino received nearly $98,000 through the First Bank of Owasso.

Adam Winston James of Tulsa also applied for a loan for his company, but he used the ID of at least seven other people without their knowledge, claiming that they were his employees.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said that James received more than $125,000 through Regent Bank.

Maturino was charged with bank fraud while James was charged with aggravated identity theft.