A Manhattan man faces a number of federal charges, after being accused of defrauding a Wichita bank out of more than $127,000 in COVID-19 aid.
Clifford Townsend has been charged with two counts of bank fraud, two counts of making a false statement and two counts of money laundering. Prosecutors allege Townsend claimed on an application for Paycheck Protection Program money that his business had 15 employees. In reality, Global Network Corporation had no employees. A grand jury indictment lists Townsend as the registered agent and CEO.
Townsend allegedly used about $27,000 of the money to buy a BMW and wired $80,000 into a brokerage account in the name of the business.
Townsend will appear in court Monday. If convicted, each bank fraud and false statement charge carries a 30 year maximum prison sentence and up to a $1 million fine.
