Caesar Oskan, 67 of San Rafael, and Ester Ozkar of Novato, pleaded guilty in May to defrauding the federal government of funds intended to keep struggling businesses afloat amid the pandemic, according to the Department of Justice.
The twins were ordered to pay more than $3 million in combined fines and restitution between the two of them.
Caesar Oskan was sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay $1,493,904 in restitution and Ester Ozkar received a one-year prison sentence and was ordered to pay a $1 million fine and $509,038.41 in restitution, The IJ reports.
Both faced a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine, according to the DOJ.
The Ozkan and Ozkar pleaded guilty in May.
They admitted to submitting multiple separate fraudulent applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan programs designed to help businesses survive amid the pandemic.
In his written plea agreement, Caesar Oskan admitted that he obtained $1,006,004 in fraudulent PPP loans and $713,500 in fraudulent EIDL loans and advances.
In Ester Ozkar’s plea agreement, he admitted that he obtained $474,132 in fraudulent PPP loans and $9,000 in EIDL advances.
“Pandemic relief funds are limited and intended to save legitimate struggling businesses from failing,” Acting United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds said in a statement.
“Individuals, like these two brothers, who treat these pools of relief funds as their personal bank accounts…
