A Beverly Hills man pleaded guilty on Sept. 22 to a federal criminal charge for fraudulently seeking more than $6.7 million in COVID-related small business loans for at least six fake companies.
Ramiro Da Rosa Mendes, 61, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. According to his plea agreement, from April 2020 to August 2020, the defendant sought to fraudulently obtain federal disaster relief funds through the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan programs. Mendes claimed to own numerous fake businesses in Beverly Hills, including One Wilshire Enterprises, Professional Music Services, and MB Property Management Group LLC. The companies were fake businesses, prosecutors said.
In his plea agreement, Mendes admitted to submitting 19 applications for PPP and EIDL loans that contained false and fraudulent information. A sentencing hearing Iis scheduled on Dec. 12.Mendes faces 20 years in federal prison.
