SHELTON — A 45-year-old city resident pleaded guilty June 24 to defrauding the government by using a COVID-19 emergency business loan for personal expenses.
Tony Sterlin Cantave pleaded guilty in New Haven to one count of theft of government money and one count of making an illegal monetary transaction. Both crimes are federal offenses punishable by up to 10 years in prison each.
According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Cantave applied for an “Economic Injury Disaster Loan” through the U.S. Small Business Administration in June 2020.
The loans were part of the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cantave lied during the application process and was able to get an approximate $96,000 federal loan.
The money was supposed to be used for small business operating expenses, but the government said Cantave used about $16,600 to pay off an auto loan.
Cantave also agreed to pay $104,176.21 in restitution.
Cantave has two prior federal convictions on this record, according to a prepared statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“In December 1999, he was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 18 months of imprisonment for a firearm offense, and in February 2015, he was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 13 months of imprisonment for his participation in a U.S. Postal Service money order fraud scheme,” the statement read.
Cantave is currently free pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
