NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County man was sentenced today to 42 months in prison for role in a scheme to steal prescription HIV medication from the Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Wagner Checonolasco, aka “Wanny,” 34, of Lyndhurst, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas to an information charging him with conspiring to steal government property. Judge Salas imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Sean M. Andre, age 32, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for conspiring with an Ulster County man to fraudulently obtain more than $5.6 million in government-backed loans meant for businesses struggling with the financial effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

NORFOLK, Va. – A former Virginia Beach business owner was sentenced today to 51 months in prison for his role in operating a durable medical equipment supply company that defrauded federal health care programs of millions of dollars.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kahleke Taylor, age 21, of Albany; Taquan Parker, age 25, of Snellville, Georgia, and formerly of Albany; and Olajuwon Sutherland, age 26, of Troy, New York, were indicted earlier this month for engaging in a fraudulent scheme to obtain more than $100,000 in unemployment insurance benefits. The alleged false claims exploited federal programs intended to aid out-of-work New Yorkers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

DETROIT - A Dearborn, Michigan husband and wife were arraigned yesterday on charges of false statement to an agency of the United States, tax evasion, and bankruptcy fraud, U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today. On the same day, both individuals pleaded guilty before Judge Laurie J. Michelson.