A Manhasset Hills man and his nephew were indicted for allegedly stealing more than $1.6 million from coronavirus pandemic relief programs, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr. announced Friday.
William Felcon and his nephew, Thomas A. Felcon of Howard Beach, received federal loans for their companies beginning in April 2020 through June 2021, officials said. William Felcon owns A L One Inc., classified as a single-family housing construction business online, and A L One Consulting Inc., officials said.
Both companies are located in New Hyde Park, officials said. Thomas A. Felcon allegedly aided both New Hyde Park companies with the hiring, supervision and payment of subcontractors while also controlling The Nebula Group and GPT Property Consultants Inc.
The two allegedly created fraudulent IRS forms that incorrectly reported the number of employees for each company and the amount of each company’s wages and payroll taxes, the DA said. The companies received more than $600,000 in Paycheck Protection Program funds from a variety of private lenders, loan advances and more than $1 million in Economic Injury Disaster Loan programs, officials said.
“The Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan programs were available at the height of the pandemic when New Yorkers needed immediate financial support to keep their businesses afloat. These individuals allegedly defrauded the system and lined their own pockets at the expense of others during a dire economic situation,” Bragg said in a statement. “I am grateful to the prosecutors in my office for protecting the integrity of these critical public programs by pursuing accountability in this case.”
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office launched a wiretap investigation in October 2020 until June 2021, officials said. The wiretap investigation was prompted by law enforcement officials noticing suspect financial transacations by various drywall construction companies based in New York City, the office said.
William Felcon is charged with one count of second-degree grand larceny, one count of third-degree grand larceny, one count of second-degree attempted grand larceny, one count of scheme to defraud in the first degree, one count of fifth-degree conspiracy and nine counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, prosecutors said.
Thomas A. Felcon is charged with five counts of second-degree grand larceny, three counts of third-degree grand larceny, two counts of second-degree attempted grand larceny, one count of scheme to defraud in the first degree, one count of fifth-degree conspiracy and nine counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, officials said.
The two entered not-guilty pleas and were released on their own recognizance, officials from the district attorney’s office said. Both were due back in court Feb. 10, officials in the DA’s office said.
William Felcon’s attorney, Murray Richman, told Newsday his client “is a really good man,” while declining to comment further.
