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Indian-origin man gets 14 months in PPP fraud case
He fraudulently secured more than $825,000 by inflating employee records and used the funds to purchase agricultural land, authorities said.
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Malvika Choudhary - Tue, 24, Mar 2026
- 16:14 EDT
- 15
Representative image / (Photo: iStock)
An Indian-origin man was sentenced to prison for 14 months in the United States for fraudulently obtaining pandemic relief funds under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Gurjeet Bath, 37, of Fresno, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston for theft of government property, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California said. He was also ordered to pay a $100,000 criminal fine.
Also Read: Indian-American judge faces prison for money laundering
According to prosecutors, Bath and his family operated two trucking companies –G.S. Bath Inc. and Complete Transportation Solutions – in Fresno County. Between 2020 and 2021, he applied for and received three PPP loans totaling more than $1 million.
Court documents state that Bath knowingly falsified records to inflate the number of employees and wages at his businesses to secure the loans. He ultimately obtained more than $825,000 in federal funds through the scheme. Authorities said the funds were used to purchase two parcels of agricultural land in Fresno County.
The Paycheck Protection Program was launched in 2020 as part of the U.S. government’s pandemic relief efforts to support small businesses and prevent mass layoffs during the COVID-19 crisis.
“During a time when legitimate businesses were struggling to survive, this defendant chose to exploit a program designed to keep workers employed,” U.S. Attorney Eric Grant said in a statement.
“He has since pleaded guilty and repaid the stolen funds, but that does not erase the harm caused. Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of that fraud and our commitment to holding accountable those who abuse programs meant to help our communities in times of crisis,” he added.
Bath pleaded guilty on May 27, 2025.
Administered by the Small Business Administration, PPP provided forgivable loans to businesses that used the funds for payroll and other eligible expenses and disbursed hundreds of billions of dollars nationwide.
Federal authorities have since pursued widespread investigations into misuse of PPP funds, with cases across multiple states involving falsified payroll records, shell companies, and diversion of funds for personal purchases such as real estate, luxury goods, and vehicles.
Earlier this year, an Indian-origin businessman based in Chicago was sentenced to six years in prison after being convicted of fraud involving tens of millions of dollars in loans, including pandemic relief funds obtained through false financial statements.
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