By: Yuritza Arroyo
Federal authorities announced that a Passaic County attorney was arrested today for fraudulent acts he committed in connection with COVID-19 relief funds.
According to federal officials, Morton Chirnomas, 60, of Clifton, is charged by complaint with one count of wire fraud.
He is scheduled to appear this afternoon before Newark federal court.
According to the complaint:
From May 2020 to September 2020, Chirnomas fraudulently obtained a $150,000 loan through the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans program.
The complaint state he also falsely obtained $200,000 in unemployment insurance benefits using the names of other people.
The charge of wire fraud is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, twice the gross profits or twice the gross loss suffered by the victims of the offense, whichever is greatest.