Cape Elizabeth Man Enters Civil Settlement for Alleged Misuse of Pandemic Relief Funds

PORTLAND, Maine: Christopher Hooper, of Cape Elizabeth, has agreed to pay $1,240,500 to settle allegations that he individually and through his company, Hooper Consulting, LLC, received COVID-19 Economic Injury and Disaster Loan ("EIDL") funding but misused the loan proceeds.

EIDL loans were low-interest, fixed-rate, long-term loans intended to help businesses overcome the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic by providing working capital to meet operating expenses, including payroll, rent or mortgage payments, utilities, and other ordinary business expenses. Under the EIDL program, borrowers could use loan proceeds solely as working capital to alleviate economic injury caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As alleged by the government, Hooper used the COVID relief funds to make stock trades and personal investments. He also made a series of large transfers to his personal checking and savings account. Later, Hooper submitted a hardship application to reduce his monthly repayment obligations. The government further alleged that Hooper comingled EIDL and business funds, then made a series of large expenditures including tens of thousands of dollars to a high-end interior designer, over $10,000 to a Land Rover dealer, and tens of thousands of dollars on home improvements. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

This case is a result of the U.S. Attorney's Office's ongoing efforts to identify and investigate fraudulently obtained or misused pandemic relief funds. Recent amendments to federal law have extended the statute of limitations for civil and criminal fraud enforcement actions concerning PPP and EIDL loans from six to 10 years.

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