The U.S. Dept. of Justice has filed a civil False Claims Act suit alleging that two men fraudulently obtained loans and grants designed to assist businesses in recovering from the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
According to the suit Alexander Koltovskoy received loans and grants from the Mortgage and Rental Assistance program and the World Trade Center Business Recovery Grant program. With Vincent Pizzi, he received assistance from the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.
The pair falsely claimed that their business had leased property and maintained equipment at 2 World Trade Center.
On Oct. 3, 2003, Koltovskoy and Pizzi were convicted of federal criminal charges relating to the fraudulent conduct described above.
Additional details are available in the February 1, 2007 issue of the North Counry Gazette.