Lynn Man Sentenced for Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft

BOSTON – A Lynn man was sentenced today for submitting false federal loan applications and using a stolen identity to rent an apartment, for which he made no rent payments.  

Steeve Jean, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 44 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Jean was also ordered to pay restitution of $41,666 restitution to the Small Business Association and $8,343 to the property management company. On Sept. 6, 2023, Jean pleaded guilty to wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and unauthorized use of a Social Security number. 

From September 2021 through June 2022, Jean rented an apartment in Lynn using the name, Social Security number and other personal identifying information of another individual. Jean failed to pay rent for the apartment resulting in a default court judgment of over $8,000 against the victim whose identity was stolen. A subsequent investigation revealed that in April 2021, Jean submitted two fraudulent federal Paycheck Protection Program loan applications, each for $20,833, claiming business losses for a business that did not exist. Jean was serving a state prison sentence during the period he claimed to be running a business.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin A. Tolkoff and Brian Sullivan of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.