Austin St. John, known for his role as the red Power Ranger, has been charged with COVID-19 aid fraud. St. John was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, according to the U.S.
Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of Texas.The FBI and IRS are investigating. St. John is one of 19 people, led by Michael Hill and Andrew Moran, who allegedly put together a fraud scheme to illegally obtain funding from the Small Business Administration’s (SBA's) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
The group allegedly obtained 16 loans totaling $3.5 million by using existing businesses or new businesses to apply to the program.
Austin St. John has been charged with COVID-19 aid fraud. (Bobby Bank/WireImage) "Once in receipt of the fraudulently obtained funds, the defendants did not use the money as intended, such as to pay employee salaries, cover fixed debt or utility payments or continue health care benefits for employees," the U.S.