A criminal complaint has been filed in federal court in Brooklyn charging Jeremy Trapp with wire fraud in connection with the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.  Trapp is in federal custody on other charges, and made his initial appearance on the new charge yesterday before United States Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon.  The defendant remains detained pending trial.

Seth D. DuCharme, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the charge.

“As alleged, Trapp filed an application containing outright lies in order to steal government funds intended to help small businesses and their employees survive the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic,” stated Acting United States Attorney DuCharme.  “The Department of Justice will ensure that taxpayer and pandemic relief funds are not misappropriated, but are used for their intended purpose and deserving recipients.”

"While small business owners around the country were scrambling to make ends meet and find ways to compensate their employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, Trapp blatantly lied on an application for economic stimulus, as alleged today,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney. “Without a legitimate business to claim or any employees to pay, he wasn’t at all eligible for the funding he eventually received. Stealing federal aid reserved for those suffering from the pandemic's economic fallout is an easy way to rack up criminal charges. As a result, the one thing Trapp is now eligible for is the chance of spending a significant amount of time behind bars.”

The Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (EIDL) provides qualifying small businesses with low-interest loans.  The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act expanded EIDL to provide economic support to help offset the temporary loss of revenue experienced by businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  As alleged in the complaint and other court documents, Trapp applied for an EIDL loan and grant in June 2020.  In the application, Trapp claimed that he was the sole proprietor of a car wash business located at his home address in Brooklyn, a multi-unit residential building.  Trapp further represented that he employed ten individuals and that his gross revenue for the 12 months prior to the COVID-19 pandemic was $150,000.  Based on Trapp’s false representations, the Small Business Administration approved a $42,500 loan and $10,000 grant to Trapp, and these funds were deposited into Trapp’s bank account.  On July 13, 2020, Trapp withdrew approximately $9,000 in cash from the bank account. 

The government’s investigation revealed that Trapp did not operate a commercial car wash business, did not employ anyone and had no gross revenue from the purported business. 

The charge in the complaint is an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.  If convicted, Trapp faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the fraud charge.

The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Francisco J. Navarro. 

The Defendant:

JEREMY TRAPP

Age: 24

Brooklyn, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-MJ-915

A criminal complaint was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging Jeremy Trapp with sabotaging a New York City Police Department (“NYPD”) van by cutting one of the vehicle’s brake lines.  Trapp was arrested earlier today at his home in Brooklyn, and was ordered detained pending trial by United States Magistrate Judge Steven M. Gold this afternoon. 

Seth D. DuCharme, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Dermot F. Shea, Commissioner, NYPD, announced the arrest and charges.

"Trapp’s alleged actions had potentially life-threatening consequences for NYPD officers and members of the public, who could have been injured by the vehicle’s brake failure,” stated Acting United States Attorney DuCharme.  “This Office will ensure that anyone who targets police officers or acts with the intent to undermine public safety efforts will face justice.”

“Mr. Trapp’s alleged behavior is illegal, and for the information of others who may have been planning similar criminal activity, we’d like to remind them that the FBI investigates and charges this type of behavior as a federal crime,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney.  “Citizens of this city, many of whom are not currently collecting paychecks, paid for the equipment allegedly damaged by Mr. Trapp.  They expect it to be available to protect and serve our community when needed.  Behavior like the type alleged here diverts resources, destroys property, risk lives, and detracts from the important message thousands of peaceful citizens have rightfully highlighted.”

“The defendant who believed he was cutting the brake lines to a vehicle that could be carrying up to nine police officers clearly intended to create a situation that could result in serious injuries or death for officers or civilians. No one should confuse this conduct with lawful protest. We appreciate the work of the NYPD Intelligence Bureau, the FBI agents and the prosecutors from the US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York in bringing these charges,” stated NYPD Commissioner Shea.

As set forth in the complaint, on July 13, 2020, Trapp participated in a demonstration outside the Brooklyn Criminal Court building in downtown Brooklyn that was objecting to the arrests of individuals who had earlier confronted pro-law enforcement demonstrators in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. As the demonstration was winding down, Trapp spoke with an individual who was a confidential source for the NYPD (the “CS”) and he stated that he wanted to harm police officers and their supporters. Trapp also stated that he wanted to cut the brake lines on police cars. On July 17, 2020, after Trapp and the CS communicated via telephone calls and text messages, the CS drove to Trapp’s home and picked him up in the CS’s vehicle, where Trapp showed the CS his backpack, which contained, among other things, a scissor-like tool.  At approximately 4:00 p.m. on July 17, 2020, Trapp and the CS approached a marked NYPD van parked near Fourth Avenue and 42nd Street in Sunset Park. Trapp crawled under the van and reached for something near one of the vehicle’s wheel wells while the CS stood nearby acting as a purported “lookout.” Trapp then crawled out from under the van and left the area with the CS.  Both the CS and NYPD officers conducting surveillance recorded this incident on video.  An inspection of the NYPD van revealed that a line for a wheel speed sensor had been partially severed. An NYPD automobile mechanic informed the FBI that the partially severed line is part of the NYPD Van’s anti-lock braking system, which is similar in appearance to, and in the same location as, the NYPD vehicle’s main brake line.  A malfunctioning anti-lock braking system would adversely impact a driver’s ability to stop and maintain control of the van in an emergency.

The charges in the complaint are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.  If convicted, the defendant faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section.  Assistant United States Attorney Francisco J. Navarro is in charge of the prosecution.

The Defendant:

JEREMY TRAPP

Age:  24

Brooklyn, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No.: 20-MJ-626