A Georgia man has been sentenced to 36 months in prison and fined $85,000 in restitution for using COVID-19 aids to purchase a Pokémon card. Vinath Oudomsine, 31, of Dublin, Georgia, claimed he needed government stimulus to prop up an “entertainment services” company that employs 10 people. After reviewing his application, the Small Business Administration granted Oudomsine $85,000 on August 4, 2020. Prosecutors said he then used $57,789 of that money to buy a rare “Charizard” Pokémon card. The busy collector eventually admitted the deception and, in addition to serving time in prison, was ordered to hand over the Charizard. “Like moths in a flame, scammers like Oudomsine have exploited these programs to line their own pockets — and together with our law enforcement partners, we are holding him and others accountable for their greed,” said David H. Estes, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, said.
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