Inside the Scandal: How One Man’s Deceit Unraveled Millions in Pandemic Relief Fraud

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PHILADELPHIA, PA — Stanislav Bril, also known as “Stan Bril” and “Slava Bril,” was sentenced Thursday to 135 months in federal prison by United States District Judge John M. Younge. Bril’s extensive fraudulent activities, which included the theft of over $6 million in federal pandemic relief funds, resulted in a sentence that also includes three years of supervised release, restitution exceeding $14 million, and a $2,400 special assessment.

Bril’s criminal exploits were manifold, spanning a decade and involving various fraudulent schemes. He initially operated a Ponzi scheme through his company, Mortgage Consultant Group (MCG), from October 2011 to August 2014. This scheme deceived investors into believing their funds were being used for real estate and construction loans, while in reality, Bril used the investments to finance his personal expenses and gambling.

In another scheme, from October 2018 to June 2021, Bril fraudulently secured a $750,000 line of credit from a Scranton-based bank for his company, The Bril Group, Inc. (TBG). He achieved this through false representations about the company’s operations and employee numbers, later using the funds for unauthorized purchases and laundering the money through various bank accounts.

Bril’s most egregious fraud involved exploiting the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Between April 2020 and March 2021, he obtained over $6.7 million by submitting falsified applications that grossly exaggerated employee numbers and payroll expenses of non-existent companies. The proceeds were diverted to luxury purchases, including a Los Angeles condominium, luxury vehicles, and extravagant vacations, and were laundered through complex financial transactions.

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Furthermore, from July 2019 to at least August 2021, Bril resurrected MCG to perpetrate yet another Ponzi scheme, inducing investors to provide loans under false pretenses. When confronted about legal proceedings against him, Bril deceptively denied any pending charges, despite ongoing federal actions. He failed to meet repayment obligations, offering fabricated excuses to investors.

U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero labeled Bril as “a rampant and remorseless scammer,” emphasizing the broad spectrum of his deceit, which affected investors, financial institutions, and government programs. “Over the course of a decade, he blithely defrauded everyone… Meantime, he was shopping for Bentleys and boats,” Romero commented, highlighting the audacity of Bril’s actions and the significant impact on victims, many of whom lost substantial savings.

Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Philadelphia, condemned Bril’s exploitation of government programs, asserting, “While conducting his various schemes, the defendant stole over $6 million. The money was intended to support legitimate businesses suffering losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.” Jacobs reiterated the FBI’s commitment, alongside other law enforcement partners, to pursuing individuals who abuse such programs for personal enrichment.

The comprehensive investigation was conducted by the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation. The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Vineet Gauri and Matthew T. Newcomer.

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