2 Oklahoma men accused of virus relief fraud

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Federal prosecutors say two men have been charged after being accused by authorities of fraudulently applying for small business loans intended for coronavirus relief in Oklahoma.

Authorities allege that Rafael Maturino, of Broken Arrow, and Adam Winston James, of Tulsa, worked together on a scheme to apply for Paycheck Protection Program loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act. Maturino is accused of getting a loan for $97,000 while James got a $125,900 loan.

Prosecutors allege that both men misrepresented their company’s payroll expenses and the number of employees they had.