John Bolden, 47, of Valley Stream, was sentenced to 48 months in prison today by United States District Judge Diane Gujarati for wire fraud conspiracy in connection with a plot to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Bolden worked as a detective for the New York City Police Department (NYPD) during his illegal behavior. In addition to the prison term, Judge Gujarati ordered Bolden to pay $303,138 in restitution and $112,002 in forfeiture. The defendant pleaded guilty on February 18, 2026.
The sentencing was announced by Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New York Field Office.
“Despite being a police officer sworn to uphold the law, the defendant organized a scheme that enabled dozens of individuals, including clients, family members, and NYPD co-workers, to obtain millions in federal funds using fictitious tax records,” U.S. Attorney Nocella said. “Bolden brazenly took advantage of a COVID relief program designed to assist struggling businesses in weathering an unprecedented national crisis. “The sentence given today shows the gravity of the offense and our office’s determination to prosecute pandemic-related fraud.”
Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the Suffolk County Police Department; the Small Business Administration’s Office of the Inspector General; the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System’s Office of the Inspector General; the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General; and the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau for their assistance on the case.
“John Bolden violated his oath to protect the community he served by secretly assisting his co-defendants, family, and friends in the theft of millions of dollars in PPP funds,” noted FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. “While the vast majority of NYPD workers uphold standards of integrity and dignity, there are individuals who use the system for selfish gain. The FBI, NYPD, and other federal partner agencies are still working together to hold people who take advantage of federally sponsored relief programs accountable.
Bolden, the detective at the time, possessed partnership interests in a tax preparation company. Bolden participated in a plot to cheat the Small Business Administration by assisting his clients in fraudulently obtaining PPP money from May 2020 to October 2022. Bolden obtained PPP funds for himself, his co-defendants, and more than 65 individuals by helping submit online loan applications containing false and fraudulent information. One of those loan applications was for co-defendant Anthony Carreira, a retired NYPD investigator who deliberately provided fake documentation to get PPP funding. Co-defendant Christian McKenzie, Bolden’s cousin, allegedly illegally received a PPP loan and directed additional applicants to Bolden in exchange for fake PPP earnings. As part of the scam, Bolden created bogus Internal Revenue Service Form Schedule C documentation that accompanied the loan applications and contained false information regarding his, his co-defendants’, and his customers’ places of employment and gross and net income. Bolden attempted to steal nearly $3 million from the PPP and was successful in taking at least a few hundred thousand dollars.
Carreira was sentenced to time served on March 6, 2026, for her role in the conspiracy, while McKenzie is expected to be sentenced on July 14, 2026.
The Public Integrity Section is handling the government’s case. Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew D. Grubin and Eric Silverberg are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Johnson Peow.
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