Global Courant
A Massachusetts man who federal authorities say was involved in several fraud schemes related to the austere homes he operated, insulation companies he owned and a COVID-19 business relief fund pleaded not guilty on Wednesday.
Daniel Cleggett, 37, of Kingston, remained free on personal admission after an appearance in US District Court in Boston. He was indicted last month on 37 counts, including multiple counts of wire fraud and money laundering.
An email requesting comment was left with his lawyer.
CONNECTICUT BUSINESSMAN GETS 8 YEARS FOR ROLE IN LEGISLATION FRAUD SCHEME
Cleggett was the founder of A Vision From God LLC, which operated austere homes in Boston, Wakefield, Quincy and Weymouth, prosecutors said.
A sober Massachusetts homeowner has pleaded not guilty to 37 criminal charges stemming from a million-dollar COVID-19 aid fraud scheme.
Authorities allege that Cleggett and the property manager conspired to overcharge a New York-based family trust that paid for a client’s room and board.
They allegedly overcharged the family fund by up to $12,500 a month by submitting fraudulent invoices, prosecutors said.
MICHIGAN MAYOR ACCUSED FOR COVID-19 AID FRAUD
They also filed false documentation when buying three properties from October 2019 to December 2021, saying they were intended as primary residences when in reality they were to be used as austere residences, prosecutors said.
Cleggett also operated numerous insulation companies that participated in the Mass Save Program, a partnership between the state and utilities that helps fund energy conservation and improvement projects, prosecutors said.
He fraudulently billed a supplier for permits he failed to actually obtain from 2018 to mid-2021, and after being kicked out of the program, formed new companies using the names of others to continue defrauding the program, according to prosecutors. That plan resulted in about $1 million in fraud, prosecutors said.
Global Courant
He also allegedly obtained nearly $800,000 in federal COVID-19 emergency response funds in 2020 by lying about his applications, then spent some of the money on personal expenses, including vacations to Montana and Aruba, gym memberships, car rental and a caviar dinner, prosecutors said.
