A former Olympic speedskater lied on mortgage functions to fraudulently obtain $10 million in coronavirus relief cash — which she partly invested in a film a couple of serial killer, federal prosecutors mentioned.
Allison Marie Baver, who gained the bronze medal as a part of Team USA’s 3000-meter girls’s relay group in Vancouver in 2010, was charged Wednesday with cash laundering and eight counts of constructing a false assertion to a financial institution, in line with the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah.
Following her speedskating profession, the Utah girl launched Allison Baver Entertainment, which payments itself as a “purpose-driven” movie and tv manufacturing firm.
Prosecutors mentioned Baver submitted eight Paycheck Protection Program mortgage functions in April 2020 in search of $10 million for her leisure agency. In every request, Baver mentioned her common month-to-month payroll was as a lot as $4.7 million, however she truly had no payroll in any respect, courtroom paperwork present.
Baver additionally indicated she employed between 100 and 430 individuals, however federal prosecutors declare that was unfaithful as effectively — alleging her firm didn’t even have anybody on its payroll.
Allison Baver gained the bronze medal as a part of Team USA’s 3000-meter girls’s relay group in Vancouver in 2010.Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
The false statements led to Baver illegally acquiring $10 million in the coronavirus relief loans — of which she later transferred $150,000 to the manufacturing firm behind “No Man of God,” a 2021 movie starring actor Elijah Wood about serial killer Ted Bundy, KTSU reported.
Baver made an uncredited look in the movie, which was launched in August, in line with the Internet Movie Database.
Baver, 41, has not entered a plea, however is about to be arraigned in federal courtroom on Jan. 18. She didn’t return a message in search of remark Thursday, KTSU reported.
Allison Baver launched Allison Baver Entertainment, a “purpose-driven” movie and tv manufacturing firm.Allison Baver Entertainment
Baver, who retired from skating in 2017, launched her firm two years later, in line with the Salt Lake Tribune. Nearly 51,000 companies in the state obtained loans through the federal relief program, however her agency was certainly one of simply 41 that obtained $5 million or extra, the newspaper reported.
Baver informed the newspaper final yr her firm had “several projects in development” and that every required a considerable variety of staff, however declined to elaborate.
“Due to the need for large crews in close proximity, these types of productions have been particularly disrupted by the pandemic, and we recognize our responsibility to put these professionals back to work as soon and as safely as possible,” Baver informed the newspaper in an e-mail. “We hope to set a good example as the entertainment industry gets back on its feet.”
Allison Baver claimed her common month-to-month payroll was as a lot as $4.7 million and that she employed between 100 and 430 individuals.Santiago Felipe/Getty Images
Federal prosecutors need Baver to forfeit roughly $9.7 million of the ill-gotten funds. She additionally faces as much as 40 years if convicted on all counts, in line with KTSU.
Court information didn’t listing an legal professional for Baver, and a spokeswoman for “No Man of God” didn’t reply to a request for remark, NBC News reported Friday.
