Prosecutors: Buffalo 'fraudster' tried to cash in with Covid-19 tests, N95 face masks

Covid-19 spawned dread and death, but Joseph C. Bella III spotted an opportunity to cash in.

The 48-year-old Buffalo man started advertising in March on social media he was selling Covid-19 test kits and N95 masks.

But his alleged lies about having a licensed laboratory, ultra-cold storage for test kits, and of selling 25,000 of the tests to the federal government brought his business to a screeching halt in April.

That's when federal agents raided his home and office, seized $114,063 from his business account as evidence of fraud, and charged him with possessing drugs, a gun and ammunition.

Read more: https://buffalonews.com/news/local/prosecutors-buffalo-fraudster-tried-to-cash-in-with-covid-19-tests-n95-face-masks/article_d5618ca8-5132-11eb-b06b-03b80838dd65.html

His scheme also included federal disaster loans and PPP funds.