A Jamaica man was criminally charged with grand larceny and other related crimes for allegedly stealing nearly a quarter of a million dollars in pandemic relief funds to help workers and small business owners suffering hardship due to COVID-19.
Humayun Kabir, 53, of 161st Street, was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on Nov. 21 on a nine-count criminal complaint for allegedly defrauding the federal disaster relief program and using the funds to purchase three upstate residential properties.
“The COVID-19 pandemic inflicted profound challenges on millions of workers and small business owners who were unable to sustain their livelihoods,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said. “The defendant is accused of exploiting essential lifeline programs provided by our federal government for his own personal gain.”
According to the charges and investigation, Kabir submitted an application to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in June 2020 for the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan and stated that he worked in the transportation industry. He was then approved for a loan of $50,100 and received the funds via electronic deposit to his personal account.
In March 2021, Kabir submitted another application to the SBA for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan and stated that he was experiencing hardship due to the loss of work as an Uber driver. He was then approved for a loan of $20,833 and withdrew the funds in cash through three separate transactions at his local bank branch in Jamaica. Two months later, Kabir submitted another application to the SBA for an additional PPP loan and was then approved for a loan in the amount of $20,833 and the funds were deposited into his personal account. In August 2021, the principal of Kabir’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan was increased by $155,200, from $50,100 provided in June 2020 to $205,300.
For each of the loans provided, Kabir certified that the funds would be used solely to alleviate economic injury sustained during a declared disaster and support the applicant’s business operation.
In March 2023, while acting on a tip from a fraud monitoring service, members of the NYS Department of Financial Services launched an investigation into Kabir’s loan disbursement. An extensive review of bank records determined that Kabir allegedly transferred $246,966 in loan funds he received from the SBA to purchase the three residential properties in Niagara Falls. The case was referred to the Queens District Attorney’s office in January for further investigation and enforcement.
“My office will aggressively prosecute people who defraud our public service programs,” Katz said. “I thank our partners at Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York, the New York State Department of Financial Services, and the NYPD Financial Crimes Task Force for helping us to bring the defendant to justice.”
After learning of the pending charges against him, Kabir surrendered to the 103rd Precinct in Jamaica on Thursday, Nov. 21, and was arraigned later that day. In addition to grand larceny, Kabir was also charged with criminal possession of stolen property and several counts of falsifying business records.
“As alleged, Humayun Kabir showed a blatant disregard for all legal — and ethical — responsibility in the midst of an unprecedented crisis,” HSI New York Special Agent in Charge William Walker said. “He now stands accused of defrauding taxpayers and small business owners in his pursuit for wealth and real estate.”
Queens Criminal Court Judge Edward Daniels ordered Kabir to return to court on Jan. 16, 2025. If convicted of the top count, he faces a potential maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison.
“HSI’s El Dorado Task Force stands at the forefront of investigating financial crimes,” Walker said. “And we will pursue justice on behalf of New Yorkers regardless of how much time has passed.”
