By: Richard L. Smith
A Sussex County resident, Mr. Nikenson, Jean Mathurin, 44, of Sparta, faces serious charges for allegedly engaging in a fraudulent scheme to acquire over $2 million in government aid meant for struggling small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger confirmed the arrest today.
Mathurin, also known as "Nik Mathurin" and "Jean Mathurin," is accused of wire fraud and money laundering. His initial court appearance is scheduled for this afternoon with U.S. Magistrate Judge Jessica S. Allen in Newark federal court.
Court documents and statements reveal that from April 2020 to November 2021, Mathurin was actively involved in a deceptive operation to secure funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL).
He allegedly filed numerous fraudulent loan applications for five fictitious businesses: Innovation Partners Plus, Inc., Opulence Motor Group LLC, OMG Collision Corp. (also known as Corsa Volante), Tricon Systems LTC, and America Home Care LLC.
These applications were submitted to four different lenders and were supported with counterfeit tax and payroll documents, as well as exaggerated employee numbers.
Furthermore, Mathurin is accused of misusing the fraudulently obtained funds for various personal expenses.
These include transferring money among his own bank accounts, purchasing restaurant equipment unrelated to his alleged businesses, covering travel costs, and buying luxury vehicles, motorcycles, and their parts through an online auction company.
The wire fraud charge against Mathurin carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, while the money laundering charge could result in up to 10 years.
Additionally, each charge comes with a potential fine of $250,000, or double the amount of the defendant's gain or the victim's loss, whichever is higher.