Marisela Nuno, a 53-year-old resident of Los Angeles, faces federal criminal charges for allegedly orchestrating an $18 million fraud scheme targeting pandemic relief funds. A federal grand jury indicted Nuno on multiple counts, according to announcements from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Public Affairs.
The indictment details an extensive exploitation of federal stimulus programs established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Court documents state that Nuno submitted fraudulent applications seeking more than $15.7 million through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and over $2.6 million via the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. These relief systems were originally designed to maintain payroll continuity and provide immediate liquidity to struggling enterprises during public health emergencies.
Federal Prosecutors Allege Fraudulent Loan Requests
Federal prosecutors allege that Nuno applied for funds on behalf of several business entities she purportedly owned. The applications contained materially false statements regarding critical underwriting metrics, including employee headcounts, average monthly payroll expenses, gross revenues, and statutory eligibility criteria. The defendant allegedly submitted falsified tax documentation to substantiate the fraudulent loan requests.
Upon receiving the capital disbursement, Nuno allegedly diverted the funds away from approved business operations. According to the DOJ, the money was spent on private property purchases, business startup costs, and direct financial transfers to family members. The case involves three distinct counts of wire fraud alongside one count of money laundering. If convicted on all charges, Nuno faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each count of wire fraud, and up to 10 years for the money laundering charge.
Systemic Vulnerabilities in Pandemic Relief Distribution
The indictment arrives amid heightened scrutiny regarding how pandemic-era monetary relief was administered across the United States. Federal watchdogs and lawmakers have repeatedly emphasized that rapid disbursement mechanisms lacked adequate preventative safeguards. In June of 2025, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) stated in remarks reported by Breitbart News that bureaucratic oversight failures allowed bad actors to siphon approximately $79 billion in coronavirus aid while legitimate small businesses struggled to secure capital.
Federal Agencies Investigate Alleged Relief Fraud
The investigation into Nuno’s activities was conducted by the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS CI) division, and the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA OIG). Prosecution is being handled by Trial Attorneys Ariel Glasner and Edward Emokpae under the Department of Justice’s recently established Fraud Division, which operates as part of a government-wide initiative to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse.
References
- U.S. Department of Justice: Office of Public Affairs – Los Angeles Woman Charged for $18M COVID-19 Relief Fraud Scheme
- Breitbart News – Coverage of Federal Oversight and Pandemic Relief Oversight Hearings
- U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General – Program Integrity Reports
