Wenatchee man pleads guilty of fraudulently obtaining $117,000 in Covid relief funds

Wenatchee, Wash. — A Wenatchee man has pled guilty to fraudulently obtaining $117,000 in Covid Relief Funding.

U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington, says Jason Carnell O'Daffer obtained the money for his business, Chelan Douglas Appraisal Services.

However, when O'Daffer submitted his application for funds, he was not licensed as an appraiser, nor was his business taking on home appraisals.

Instead, the us state attorney's office says O'Daffer spent the funds on non-business expenses, including a $39,000 personal RV purchase.

The US Attorney's Office tells us this is just one of 27-indictments around the state from the Covid-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, which works with 17 federal agencies to follow leads and hold individuals accountable.

The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, Vanessa Waldref, says. "We are focusing on fraud throughout the district because, small businesses are critical in all of our communities, and ensuring that precious government resources that are designed to uplift our communities, are being spent in ways that are intended, is critical to having stronger and safer communities."

O'Doffer's sentencing is set for may eighth in Spokane.

You can find out more about the Covid-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force here.