John Bolden, a former detective with the New York City Police Department, was sentenced on June 3 in federal court in Brooklyn to 48 months in prison for wire fraud conspiracy related to a scheme defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program. United States District Judge Diane Gujarati also ordered Bolden to pay $303,138 in restitution and $112,002 in forfeiture. Bolden had previously pleaded guilty on February 18.
United States Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr. for the Eastern District of New York and FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. announced the sentence. Nocella said, “Despite being a police officer sworn to uphold the law, the defendant organized a scheme that enabled dozens of individuals, including clients, family members and NYPD co-workers, to obtain millions in federal funds using fictitious tax records. Bolden brazenly took advantage of a COVID relief program created to help struggling businesses survive an unprecedented national crisis. The sentence imposed today reflects the seriousness of that misconduct and our Office’s commitment to prosecute fraud related to the pandemic.”
Nocella thanked several agencies for their assistance with the case: Suffolk County Police Department; Small Business Administration’s Office of Inspector General; Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Office of Inspector General; U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General; and NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau.
Barnacle said, “John Bolden betrayed his oath to protect the community he served by secretly helping his co-defendants, family, and friends in stealing millions of dollars in PPP funds. While an overwhelming majority of NYPD employees strictly adhere to values of integrity and honor, there are those who exploit the system for personal enrichment. The FBI, NYPD, and our federal partner agencies continue working together to hold those accountable who exploit federally funded relief programs.”
According to court documents presented at sentencing proceedings, between May 2020 and October 2022 while owning partnership interests in a tax-preparation business franchise, Bolden helped more than 65 individuals—including himself—fraudulently obtain PPP funds by submitting loan applications containing false information about employment status and income figures using fabricated IRS Schedule C forms. One application was submitted by co-defendant Anthony Carreira (a former NYPD detective), who knowingly provided false documentation; another participant was Christian McKenzie (Bolden’s cousin), who also obtained fraudulent loans while directing other applicants toward Bolden.
Carreira received a sentence on March 6 consisting of time served; McKenzie is scheduled for sentencing on July 14.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew D. Grubin and Eric Silverberg from the Public Integrity Section, with support from Paralegal Specialist Johnson Peow.
