Click Here to View the Original U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Press Release
A Second Former NYPD Detective Previously Pleaded Guilty to Participating in the Scheme
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, John Bolden pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy in connection with a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) fraud scheme. At the time of the offense, Bolden was a detective with the New York City Police Department (NYPD). Today’s proceeding was held before United States Chief Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon. Bolden’s co-defendants — Anthony Carreira, another former NYPD detective, and Christian McKenzie—previously pleaded guilty. When sentenced, the defendants each face up to 30 years in prison.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) announced the guilty pleas.
“The Paycheck Protection program was created to keep small businesses afloat during an unprecedented national emergency,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “John Bolden, who swore to uphold the law as a police officer, instead shamefully broke the law and exploited the COVID-19 pandemic for personal gain. This Office remains committed to protecting taxpayer-funded programs and prosecuting those who steal from them.”
Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the Suffolk County Police Department; the Small Business Administration’s Office of the Inspector General; the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Office of the Inspector General; the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General; and the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau for their assistance on the case.
“Former NYPD Detective John Bolden abused his sworn oath to protect his community by submitting fraudulent loan applications to unlawfully receive paycheck protection program funds,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. “While the cadre of NYPD detectives remains dedicated to their promise to selflessly serve, the FBI will not tolerate any public servant who exploits federal programs and taxpayer dollars to line their own pockets.”
Congress created the PPP in 2020 as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. As set forth in court filings, Bolden and Carreira, both of whom at the time served as NYPD detectives, owned partnership interests in a franchise location for a tax preparation business. Between May 2020 and October 2022, Bolden engaged in a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration by working with his clients to fraudulently obtain PPP funds. Bolden sought to obtain, and in many cases did obtain, PPP funds for himself, his co-defendants and more than 65 individuals by helping submit online loan applications that contained materially false and fraudulent information. One of those loan applications belonged to Carreira, who knowingly submitted false documentation to obtain PPP funds. McKenzie, Bolden’s cousin, also fraudulently obtained a PPP loan and steered other applicants to Bolden in exchange for fraudulent PPP proceeds. As part of the scheme, Bolden prepared fictitious Internal Revenue Service Form Schedule C documentation, which accompanied the loan applications and contained false information about his, his co-defendants’ and his clients’ places of employment, gross income, and net income.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew D. Grubin and Eric Silverberg are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Johnson Peow.
The Defendants:
JOHN BOLDEN
Age: 47
Valley Stream, NY
ANTHONY CARRIERA
Age: 43
Staten Island, NY
CHRISTIAN MCKENZIE
Age: 48
Wheatley Heights, NY
E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-361 (DG)