https://en.cibercuba.com/noticias/2025-05-11-u1-e208933-s27061-nid302572-condenan-eeuu-exsargento-cubano-estafa-fondos

A former sergeant of the Cuban army was sentenced in Iowa, United States, for his involvement in a fraud scheme related to loans granted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The accused, identified as Yovany Ciero, 48 years old and a resident of Mason City, Iowa, was found guilty on May 8 after a four-day trial in a federal court in Sioux City, reported on its website the Office of the Attorney General for the Northern District of Iowa.

Ciero, former employee of a meat packing plant in Algona, Iowa, was found guilty of three counts of electronic fraud, 23 counts of money laundering, one count of engaging in a monetary transaction with property derived from illegal activity, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The jury deliberated for approximately three and a half hours before issuing the verdict.

The evidence presented at the trial revealed that Ciero and more than one hundred Cuban immigrants obtained fraudulent loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) starting in July 2020, falsely claiming to be self-employed with earnings of approximately $100,000 in 2019. In reality, many of them were working at the packing plant or elsewhere.

Ciero acted as one of the six "aggregators" in the scheme, recruiting individuals, gathering their personal information, and facilitating its use in fraudulent loan applications.

The scheme involved more than 4 million dollars in fraudulent claims, resulting in over 2.4 million dollars in losses for the U.S. government.

The court established that Ciero received commissions for each fraudulent loan processed and used part of the funds to purchase a semi-trailer truck.

The final sentence will be issued by Judge Leonard T. Strand, and Ciero faces a potential maximum sentence of life in prison, over 10 million dollars in fines, and three years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the Small Business Administration - Office of Inspector General, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation - Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Storm Lake Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy L. Vavricek and Daniel A. Chatham.

Frequently Asked Questions about Loan Fraud during the Pandemic in Iowa

Who is Yovany Ciero and why was he convicted in Iowa?

Yovany Ciero is a former sergeant of the Cuban army who was convicted in Iowa for loan fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic. He resided in Mason City and was found guilty of participating in a scheme that involved the fraudulent acquisition of loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), falsely claiming to be a self-employed entrepreneur. Ciero was convicted on charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

What did the loan fraud scheme that Yovany Ciero participated in consist of?

The fraud scheme involved the submission of fraudulent loan applications for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), claiming nonexistent income and fictitious business activities. Ciero and more than one hundred Cuban immigrants participated in this scheme, which resulted in losses of over 2.4 million dollars for the U.S. government. Ciero acted as a "gatherer," obtaining personal information from the participants and facilitating the fraud.

What consequences does Yovany Ciero face following his conviction for loan fraud?

Yovany Ciero faces serious legal consequences following his conviction. He could be sentenced to life in prison, pay over 10 million dollars in fines, and serve three years of supervised release. The final sentence will be determined by Judge Leonard T. Strand. Additionally, this case reflects a collaborative effort among several federal agencies to combat fraud related to pandemic relief programs.

How does this case of fraud compare to other crimes committed by Cuban immigrants in the United States?

This loan fraud case is one of several incidents in which Cuban immigrants have been involved in criminal activities in the United States. In other cases, Cubans have been convicted of Medicare fraud, human trafficking, and other financial crimes. These offenses reflect a worrying pattern of criminal activity among some Cuban immigrants, leading to an increase in investigations and convictions by U.S. authorities.