Strand书店付148万美元和解PPP贷款案：被指违规领取93万美元，店主是参议员之妻
华盛顿哥伦比亚特区联邦检察官办公室11月3日宣布，位于纽约市的 Strand 书店（Strand Book Store, Inc.）同意支付1,482,560美元，就其被指违反《虚假索赔法》、违规申领并领取薪资保护计划（PPP）第二笔贷款一事达成和解。
检方指，Strand 的控股所有人是联邦参议员 Ron Wyden 的妻子 Nancy Bass Wyden。联邦法律禁止由国会议员或其配偶直接或间接持有控股权益的企业领取 PPP 第二笔贷款；Strand 仍于2021年2月申请并领取了932,350美元的第二笔贷款。检方称，Nancy Bass Wyden 在申请中作出的相关认证属明知且重大的虚假陈述。
美国检察官 Pirro 表示，薪资保护计划旨在保住美国人的工作，而不是让不符合资格者，尤其是联邦参议员的配偶，占用纳税人资助的救济。
本案和解源于《虚假索赔法》的举报人（qui tam）条款：企业举报人 Blockquote Inc. 提起诉讼，案号25-3609（华盛顿特区联邦地区法院），Blockquote 将从和解款中获得约148,256美元。案件由助理联邦检察官 Sean M. Tepe 调查，小企业管理局（SBA）总法律顾问办公室律师 Christopher J. McClintock 提供支持。
司法部说明，本次民事和解所解决的仍只是指控，尚无责任认定。
Strand Book Store to Pay $1.48 Million Over PPP Loan: Owner Is a U.S. Senator's Wife
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia announced on November 3 that Strand Book Store, Inc., the New York City bookstore, has agreed to pay $1,482,560 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by improperly applying for and receiving a second-draw loan under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for which it was not eligible.
Prosecutors said Strand was ineligible because its controlling owner was Nancy Bass Wyden, the wife of U.S. Senator Ron Wyden. Federal law bars businesses controlled by a member of Congress or their spouse from receiving second-draw PPP loans. Strand applied in February 2021 and received $932,350 in second-draw funds. The government alleged that Ms. Wyden's certification that no spouse of a member of Congress held a controlling interest was knowingly and materially false.
U.S. Attorney Pirro said the Paycheck Protection Program was created to save American jobs, not to enrich those who are not eligible for taxpayer-funded relief, especially the wife of a U.S. Senator.
The settlement resolves claims brought under the qui tam whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. The complaint was filed by corporate relator Blockquote Inc., captioned U.S. ex rel. Blockquote Inc. v. Strand Book Store, Inc., Civ. No. 25-3609 (D.D.C.). Blockquote will receive approximately $148,256 in connection with the settlement. The investigation was conducted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean M. Tepe with support from Christopher J. McClintock of the SBA Office of General Counsel.
The Justice Department noted that the claims resolved by the civil settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
来源：华盛顿哥伦比亚特区联邦检察官办公室
发布：GSM·美国（发布链接）
图片来源：图：美国司法部本部大楼（GSM 四级固定图库）。 / Photo: U.S. Department of Justice headquarters (GSM fixed asset library).
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