Rockford Man Sentenced To Prison For COVID-Relief Fraud, Preparing False Tax Returns

ROCKFORD –  A 37-year-old Rockford man is going to federal prison for fraudulently obtaining COVID-relief loans and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns.  Absalom Hall was sentenced to three-years behind bars.  Prosecutors say in 2020 and 2021, Hall submitted multiple PPP loan applications with false statements about his businesses.  Hall obtained more than $85,000 in PPP loans.  He also engaged in tax fraud by presenting himself as a tax preparer operating a business even though he didn’t have an IRS-issued tax ID number to prepare federal income tax returns for others.  Hall didn’t report any income from this business on his 2021 or 2022 individual income tax returns.