NEW YORK
Federal officials charged Luka Klasinc, a former Olympic ice skater, with bank fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with his use of falsified documents.
Klasinc, of Slovenia, attempted to gain access to over $1.5 million in funds disbursed through the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) Economic Injury Disaster Loans.
Klasinc was arrested Monday in Manhattan.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “As alleged, at a time when U.S. small businesses were struggling because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Klasinc thought he could scam his way to easy money.”
Adding, “as alleged, Klasinc used false documents to try and obtain over a million dollars in funds intended to help hard working Americans but, thanks to the diligence of the FBI, his plans have been put on ice. He will now be held accountable for his alleged brazen lies.”
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney, Jr., said: “Loans issued on behalf of the SBA were intended to provide relief for businesses struggling during the pandemic. Time and again we see instances of fraud and abuse of this program. We will investigate all instances of alleged SBA loan fraud and hold accountable those who take advantage of this program for personal gain.”
According to the allegations in the Complaint[1]:
Klasinc, 48, is the sole owner of a company named BOB77, LLC.
Klasinc claimed that BOB77, LLC (“BOB77”) is an event management company that, in conjunction with its global partners, stages major ice-themed amusement park style events around the world.
Beginning in or around 2019, BOB77 opened three business bank accounts (the “BOB77 Accounts”) with an international financial institution (“Bank-1”).
Between July 2020 and September 2020, the BOB77 Accounts received a total of $1,595,800 from the SBA, pursuant to eleven Economic Injury Disaster Loans. In the same period, there were numerous wire transfers from the BOB77 Accounts to international beneficiaries.
In late September 2020, after identifying potential fraud, Bank-1 froze all funds in the BOB77 Accounts and contacted KLASINC for additional information regarding the account activity.
In response, Klasinc provided documentation — including a falsified document purporting to be a letter from the U.S. Small Business Administration — intended to legitimize the SBA deposits and persuade Bank-1 to release the funds.
In or around June 2021, KLASINC traveled to the United States and appeared at in person at a New York branch of Bank-1, where he again attempted to persuade Bank-1 to release the funds by claiming that the SBA deposits were “investments” and not associated with a loan.
* Klasinc is facing up to 32 years in prison if convicted of the charges. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.