During the same period, Sonson also worked with others to sell and attempt to sell U.S. Treasury checks that were stolen from the U.S. mail.\u00a0 The goal of their bank fraud conspiracy was to negotiate the stolen checks at banks.\u00a0 As part of this conspiracy, Sonson offered to sell stolen checks valued at more than $1,200,000.<\/p>\n
Sonson also admitted to obtaining a $325,215 loan from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a federal program that provided forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses. The loan was approved based on a fraudulent application submitted by Sonson stating that a company he owned in Piscataway, New Jersey, had 21 employees and a monthly payroll of $130,086.\u00a0 The application also contained a fake tax return. In fact, Sonson\u2019s business had no employees other than himself and no payroll.<\/p>\n
The fentanyl conspiracy count carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison.\u00a0The bank fraud and bank fraud conspiracy counts each carry a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison.\u00a0Each count carries a maximum $1 million fine.\u00a0 Sentencing is scheduled for December 16, 2026.<\/p>\n
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Philadelphia Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Wayne Jacobs, and agents of the Internal Revenue Service \u2013 Criminal Investigation, Newark Field Office,\u00a0under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.<\/p>\n
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\u201cFraud Division\u201d).\u00a0 The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people.\u00a0 The Department\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.<\/p>\n
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender of the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office in Camden.<\/p>\n
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