A Saint Augustine man has been sentenced after pleading guilty to bank and wire fraud charges related to COVID-19 relief funds he obtained through fraud.
66-year-old Michael Lewis Patch will have to serve 90 days in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $64,000 in restitution.
Patch operated Vernon Street Grill in Farmington that has since closed permanently.
The Illinois Department of Revenue had made several attempts to work with Patch regarding taxes owed and his expired business license.
After Patch ignored their calls and a criminal investigation was launched.
Patch would admit that he used false data to steal money from the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program.
He received about $11,500 in PPP loans and $53,000 from EIDL for a total amount of $64,000.
Investigators found that Patch didn’t use the funds for their intended purpose, but instead purchased property. He also would overpay his employees, then require them to cash their checks and return excess wages to him.
Patch was indicted in September 2021 and pleaded guilty to all three counts he faced in September 2022. He’s been free on bond pending sentencing.
Patch will voluntarily surrender himself to serve his sentence on October 17.
