Alaska Resident Gets Federal Prison Time in Portland for Stealing More Than $170,000 in COVID Relief Funds
An Alaskan resident was found guilty on three counts of wire fraud involving more than $172,000 from emergency COVID-19 programs when he appeared before a Portland U.S. District Court judge earlier this week.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Oregon, 65-year-old Peter Igwacho was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and must repay $182,225.15 in restitution.
- Apr 2020 to Oct 2021 : files at least five PPP and EIDL applications
- Jul 23 2024 : grand jury returns superseding indictment
- Aug 21 2025 : jury convicts on three wire fraud counts
- Feb 26 2026 : sentenced to 21 months prison plus 3 years supervision
- Feb 26 2026 : restitution ordered $182,225.15
He Filed at Least Five Fraudulent Applications
Igwacho received the funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury and Disaster Loan (EIDL) program between April 2020 and October 2021, during the ongoing pandemic.
According to court documents, Igwacho, who lives in Anchorage, Alaska, filed at least five fraudulent applications on behalf of a non-operational sole proprietorship.
Evidence showed that Igwacho used the money to fund personal expenses instead of for its intended purpose – helping small businesses survive financially during the COVID-19 pandemic.