SANTA ANA, Calif. — A Culver City restaurateur and hospitality executive was sentenced Thursday to 41 months in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining more than $4 million in COVID-19 relief loans through false applications submitted to federal agencies and financial institutions.
Philip Frederick Camino, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Fred W. Slaughter, who also ordered him to pay $4,365,667 in restitution. Following the hearing, Camino was remanded into federal custody.
Camino pleaded guilty in August 2024 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Quick Facts
- Defendant: Philip Frederick Camino, 46
- Residence: Culver City
- Sentence: 41 months in federal prison
- Restitution: $4,365,667
- Charge: Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
- Guilty Plea: August 2024
- Fraudulent Loans: More than $4 million
- Loan Programs Involved: Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL)
Federal prosecutors said Camino owned several companies operating in Hollywood, Westwood, Studio City, Beverly Hills and Arizona.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress established the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans program to provide emergency financial assistance to businesses suffering economic losses.
Between April 2020 and April 2021, Camino submitted and caused others to submit fraudulent loan applications to the U.S. Small Business Administration and participating lenders.
According to court documents, Camino inflated employee counts, provided fictitious federal tax forms that had never been filed with the Internal Revenue Service, and falsely certified that loan proceeds would be used for authorized business purposes.
Authorities said Camino submitted more than 20 fraudulent loan applications and obtained more than $4 million in pandemic-relief funds.
The case was investigated by federal authorities as part of ongoing efforts to identify and prosecute fraud involving COVID-19 relief programs.