Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Bakersfield Dentist Admits Stealing $500K in COVID Relief Funds
By admin
Published 2 years ago on
August 21, 2023

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Ranjan Rajbanshi, a dentist with practices in Bakersfield and Santa Barbara, is staring into the teeth of a federal prison sentence.

On Monday, the 46-year-old Rajbanshi pleaded guilty in Fresno federal court to stealing $500,000 in COVID relief funds, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced in a news release.

According to court records, Rajbanshi received more than $850,000 in COVID-19 relief money from the Small Business Administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from April 2020 through February 2022.

Agrees to Repay Stolen Funds

In his applications, Rajbanshi told the government that he would only use the relief money for specified business purposes such as facility costs, payroll, and protective equipment.

However, Rajbanshi admitted that he used $500,000 for improper personal expenditures such as investments. He has agreed to pay that money back to the government before his sentencing.

This case stems from an investigation by the FBI, the SBA Office of Inspector General, and the HHS Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Barton and Robin Tubesing are prosecuting the case.

Rajbanshi is scheduled for sentencing by U.S. District Judge Ana de Alba on Dec. 4, 2023.

He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. But the sentence will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of statutory factors and federal sentencing guidelines.

How to Report Tips on COVID Fraud

The U.S. Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force in 2021 to marshal DOJ resources in partnership with other agencies in a crackdown on pandemic-related fraud.

Anyone with a tip about suspected COVID-19 fraud can call the DOJ’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at this link.

 

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

UP NEXT

Fresno Native Denise Whisenhunt Returns Home to Lead City College

Smittcamp Warns Fresno Supervisors About New Copper Theft Law. Bredefeld Wants to Take a Risk

14 hours ago

Border Patrol Said It Targeted Known Criminals in Kern County. But It Had No Record on 77 of 78 Arrestees

14 hours ago

‘World-Class Nightlife’: CA Lawmakers Try Again to Extend Last Call to 4 AM

This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Enjoy closing down a California bar at 2 a.m.? By Yue St...

13 hours ago

13 hours ago

‘World-Class Nightlife’: CA Lawmakers Try Again to Extend Last Call to 4 AM

13 hours ago

Fresno County Passes Ordinance to Punish Copper Wire Thieves

14 hours ago

Fresno Native Denise Whisenhunt Returns Home to Lead City College

14 hours ago

Smittcamp Warns Fresno Supervisors About New Copper Theft Law. Bredefeld Wants to Take a Risk

Border Patrol Sgt. Gregory Bovino
14 hours ago

Border Patrol Said It Targeted Known Criminals in Kern County. But It Had No Record on 77 of 78 Arrestees

14 hours ago

Eyewitnesses Recount Deadly Israeli Attack on Medics in Gaza

15 hours ago

How High Will the Thermometer Climb This Week in Fresno?

16 hours ago

Visalia Man Admits to Selling Machine Guns to Undercover Agent

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend