Florida Resident Sentenced To 5 Years For Obtaining Fraudulent COVID Loans, Scams Targeting Investors, And Stealing Government Property

SAN FRANCISCO - Thomas Aaron Signorelli was sentenced today to more than 5 years in federal prison for crimes including bank fraud, wire fraud, obstructing justice, and conspiring to launder the proceeds of fraud. U.S. District Judge James Donato handed down the sentence.

Signorelli, 48, of West Palm Beach, Florida, was charged by Information on September 19, 2024, and on November 25, 2024, he pleaded guilty to bank fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, theft of government property, obstruction of justice, and money laundering conspiracy. According to the plea agreement, Signorelli admitted that he caused the submission of applications for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan and a loan under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) that contained false statements regarding the number of employees and annual revenue for a company that Signorelli controlled. These loans totaled $61,725 and were not repaid.

In addition, Signorelli admitted that he engaged in two other fraud schemes, both schemes involving false statements made to prospective investors to obtain hundreds of thousands of dollars from defrauded investors. When law enforcement agents sought to execute a search warrant authorizing a search of Signorelli's mobile phone, Signorelli deleted WhatsApp messages with a co-conspirator that he knew were evidence of a crime, as admitted by Signorelli.

Signorelli also admitted that he offered to launder money that he believed was the proceeds of drug trafficking, and that an individual he now understands was an undercover law enforcement agent provided funds to Signorelli for laundering. Signorelli admitted that he received $150,000 of what he believed was drug proceeds, and that instead of laundering these funds, he stole this money.

The losses caused by Signorelli's criminal conduct totaled more than $1.9 million.

United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Cobo, and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Oakland Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge David Lowe made the announcement.

In addition to the 63-month prison term, Judge Donato also sentenced the defendant to a 3-year period of supervised release. The defendant is currently in custody and will begin serving the sentence immediately. Judge Donato will set a further hearing regarding restitution.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick O'Brien is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Lynette Dixon and Mimi Lam. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and IRS-CI.

On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ("Fraud Division"). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department's work to combat fraud supports President Trump's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.