A California family's $18 million COVID-relief fraud scheme, complete with ankle-bracelet escapes and a fugitive chase to Montenegro, has inspired new Senate legislation aimed at blocking convicted fraudsters' household members from federal money. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) introduced the No Cash for Cohabitating Kins of Crooks Act, a bill that would bar anyone living with […] The post Sen. Joni Ernst targets 'fraudster families' with bill to cut off relatives of convicted scammers from federal aid appeared first on American Almanac .
Which federal agencies were mentioned as being victims of family-run fraud rings identified by Senator Ernst?
The agencies identified include the Small Business Administration (SBA), the USDA, the Veterans Affairs (VA), and the Federal Child Nutrition Program.
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In Washington state, what was the outcome of the fraud case involving Kelly Lee-Carroll?
Kelly Lee-Carroll, who claimed to be partially paralyzed, worked with her sister and son to defraud the Veterans Affairs Administration of $1.1 million. Lee-Carroll received 17 months in federal prison, and her son received 14 months.
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Describe the PPP fraud case involving the Edwards family in Florida.
The Edwards family, led by Pastor Evan Edwards and his sons (including Josh Edwards), created a fake ministry to claim Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. While they sought $6 million, the SBA provided approximately $8.4 million. Josh Edwards was sentenced to four years and three months in prison, while Evan Edwards was deemed incompetent to stand trial and was never charged.
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How much money did 15 families, identified by Senator Joni Ernst's August Squeal Award, collectively swindle from taxpayers?
The 15 families identified in the August Squeal Award collectively swindled taxpayers out of roughly $50 million.
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What is the name of the bill introduced by Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) aimed at blocking convicted fraudsters' household members from receiving federal money?
The bill is called the No Cash for Cohabitating Kins of Crooks Act. It would bar anyone living with a convicted criminal or fraudster from receiving federal grants, loans, subawards, or reimbursements.
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A California family's $18 million COVID-relief fraud scheme, complete with ankle-bracelet escapes and a fugitive chase to Montenegro, has inspired new Senate legislation aimed at blocking convicted fraudsters' household members from federal money. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) introduced the No Cash for Cohabitating Kins of Crooks Act, a bill that would bar anyone living with a convicted criminal or fraudster from receiving federal grants, loans, subawards, or reimbursements. Ernst rolled out the legislation alongside her August Squeal Award, a monthly spotlight on government waste that this time named 15 families she says collectively swindled taxpayers out of roughly $50 million. The bill and the award share a common thread: fraud that runs…Open