Lehigh Acres Man Indicted For COVID Relief Fraud

Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Thakur Sukhdeo (38, Lehigh Acres) with wire fraud and illegal monetary transactions. If convicted, Sukhdeo faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count and up to 10 years in federal prison for each illegal monetary transaction count. The indictment also notifies Sukhdeo that the United States intends to forfeit a 2018 Jaguar F-Pace, 2020 GMC Sierra 3500 HD, and $414,000, which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.

According to the indictment, beginning in approximately July 2021, Sukhdeo engaged in a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration (SBA) by making fraudulent representations in Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) loan documents about the use of EIDL funds. Sukhdeo’s false representations caused the SBA to fund a $414,000 EIDL for his company, J.R. Handyman Pro’s LLC.  Instead of using the EIDL proceeds for working capital, Sukhdeo used the funds for unauthorized purposes and for his own personal enrichment and the enrichment of others. This included the purchase of a luxury car for $68,984.61 and a truck for $93,994.42.   

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted March 2020. It is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. On source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the expansion of an existing disaster-related program, the EIDL Program. The EIDL program is designed to provide economic relief to small businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. EIDL proceeds can be used to cover a wide array of working capital and normal operating expenses, such as continuation of health care benefits, rent, utilities, and fixed debt payments.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Trent Reichling. The forfeiture will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky.