A $18 Million Scheme Unraveled
“The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt,” the Department of Justice stated as it announced federal charges against 53-year-old Marisela Nuno. The Los Angeles resident stands accused of orchestrating an $18 million fraud scheme, allegedly exploiting pandemic-era relief programs to enrich herself.
According to the indictment, Nuno targeted the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds established under the CARES Act. Prosecutors allege she sought over $15.7 million in PPP funds and more than $2.6 million in EIDL loans by submitting fabricated tax documentation and misrepresenting employee counts, payroll, and gross revenues. Nuno is accused of submitting these applications on behalf of businesses she purportedly owned, knowingly misrepresenting their operational reality and eligibility for funding.
Diversion of Federal Capital
Once the funds were secured, the Department of Justice alleges that Nuno bypassed the intended purpose of the stimulus money. Instead of supporting struggling businesses, the capital was reportedly diverted for unauthorized personal use.
The money allegedly funded private property acquisitions, startup costs for new business ventures, and direct payments to family members. This alleged misuse has led to significant legal exposure: Nuno faces three counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. She faces a potential 70-year prison sentence if convicted, with each wire fraud count carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years and the money laundering charge carrying up to 10 years.
A Centralized Crackdown on Fraud
The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, and the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General. Trial attorneys Ariel Glasner and Edward Emokpae are also assigned to the prosecution.
This prosecution is part of a broader government initiative chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance, which aims to eliminate waste and abuse across federal programs. The effort supports a task force focused on recovering misappropriated funds authorized by the CARES Act, which President Donald Trump signed in March 2020 to provide $2 trillion in economic relief.
Patterns of Pandemic-Era Crime
The Nuno case follows other recent prosecutions in California involving the misuse of pandemic relief funds.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Nuno over Fabricated Loan Records
The federal grand jury indictment centers on the falsification of financial health records. Prosecutors allege that Nuno submitted loan applications containing fabricated figures for gross revenue and payroll to secure the relief capital.
The case remains active in federal court. While the charges are significant, the Department of Justice maintains that the indictment is an allegation, emphasizing that “the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”
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