Former Attorney Sanjay Patel Pleads Guilty to Fraud

Sanjay Patel, a former Georgia attorney, has pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining nearly $300,000 in Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) during the COVID-19 pandemic and laundering over $250,000 from unrelated investment fraud schemes. Between August 2020 and March 2021, Patel submitted multiple falsified EIDL applications to the Small Business Administration, misrepresenting his law firm's employee count and revenues, leading to the approval of two loans. Instead of using the funds for legitimate business purposes, Patel diverted them for personal expenses, including gambling and settling non-business debts. Additionally, he laundered money through his attorney escrow account, misrepresenting investor funds intended for an energy project. Sentencing is scheduled for December 12, 2024, as federal authorities continue to combat pandemic-related fraud. U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan emphasized the importance of holding accountable those who exploit government relief programs.