Sparta Man Stole Millions In COVID Relief Funds, Feds Say

SPARTA, NJ — A Sussex County man has been found guilty of stealing more than $2 million in COVID relief funds, according to federal officials.

Nikenson Jean Mathurin, aka “Nik Mathurin,” aka “Jean Mathurin," was convicted of three counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering following a four-day trial this month.

Specifically, Mathurin collected $2.1 million in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) established to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In April 2020, Mathurin applied for 15 fraudulent PPP and EIDL applications on behalf of businesses he claimed to own, court documents said.

These phony applications featured fake monthly payroll numbers, phony gross revenue, and bogus supporting tax documents and payroll records.

“Pandemic relief programs were created to help struggling businesses keep workers employed and survive a national emergency—not to serve as a personal payday for fraudsters," said U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer.

"The evidence at trial showed that Mathurin submitted fraudulent loan applications packed with fake payroll records, false tax documents, and fabricated business information to obtain more than $2.1 million in federal relief funds."

Mathurin is due for sentencing in October. He faces decades in prison and potentially millions in fines.

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