Peabody Man Pleads Guilty To COVID-19 Business Relief Fund Fraud

PEABODY, MA — A Peabody man is scheduled for sentencing in September after pleading guilty in federal court to obtaining more than $100,000 in COVID-19 relief funds for a business that had not existed for nearly five years before the onset of the coronavirus health crisis.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said Jonathan Carpenter, 52, was charged with government fraud in January 2026 after being accused of falsely obtaining a USBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan.

Carpenter pleaded guilty to theft of government money before U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun, who scheduled sentencing for Sept. 3, 2026.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act authorized SBA to provide EIDLs to eligible small businesses experiencing financial disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said Carpenter fraudulently obtained $125,000 in EIDL funds for Homeland Electric, an electrical contractor the U.S. Attorney's Office said had not existed for approximately five years at the time of his application.

Carpenter falsely claimed that Homeland Electric was established on March 1, 2011, had gross receipts of $250,000, and had eight employees as of Jan. 21, 2020.

Carpenter also failed to indicate that he had a criminal record.

The charge of theft of government money provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, credited the Peabody Police Department for assistance in prosecuting the case.