Colorado physician Francis Joseph, MD, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for fraudulently obtaining and misappropriating an estimated $250,000 from two COVID-19 relief programs.
According to court documents, Dr. Joseph received government funds for COVID-19 relief from the Accelerated and Advance Payment Program and the Paycheck Protection Program while he was a supervisory physician at Springs Medical Associates in Colorado Springs between March and June 2020.
While intended to provide emergency assistance to medical providers and small businesses, Dr. Joseph used the funds to pay personal expenses, according to a June 1 news release from the Justice Department.