Fresno businessman Henry Ellard Jr. pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining $144,000 in COVID-19 relief funds, which he used for personal expenses. (GV Wire File)
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Henry Ellard Jr., 39, son of former NFL star and Fresno State Bulldog Henry Ellard Sr., admitted Wednesday to defrauding the government of $144,000 in COVID-19 relief funds intended for struggling businesses, the Department of Justice announced.
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Ellard Jr. admitted he falsely claimed his business, Baptiste Ellard LLC, had 10 employees and a payroll topping $695,000, which helped him secure funds through the Paycheck Protection Program.
Prosecutors say the business existed only on paper. Instead of using the loan for business expenses, as he promised, Ellard Jr. spent the cash on personal luxuries, including dining out, travel, and even golf.
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The case was part of a broader federal crackdown on pandemic relief fraud. The California COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force, which coordinated the investigation, zeroes in on large-scale fraud and aims to recover funds misused during the pandemic.
Ellard Jr. is set to be sentenced on Feb. 24, 2025, and could face up to 10 years in prison, along with a $250,000 fine, according to the DOJ.
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