Mukund Mohan is a 48 year old Indian American Tech Executive and Investor that has been sentenced for perpetuating a scheme to fraudulently obtaining more than $1.8 million worth of Covid 19 disaster relief loans. Mukund Mohan was sentenced to a two-year prison on 25th August by the Western District of Washington. Mukund Mohan is a former Amazon, Microsoft Ventures executive and well-known curator at Vangal.
Before getting caught, Mukund Mohan was a well-known angel investor who was based in Clyde Hill of Washington state. Mukund Mohan completed his education in Computer Science at Mysore University, India and then rose to become the Director of Engineering at Microsoft in America. After that Mohan became an entrepreneur in Bengaluru and also claimed to be the founder of over five companies.
How Mukund Mohan claimed the Covid 19 Relief Funds
The charges against Mukund Mohan
Mukund Mohan’s past claims for fame
Frequently Asked Questions
Varad Kitey
How Mukund Mohan claimed the Covid 19 Relief Funds
To cover up the fraud, the infamous investor was known to have submitted fake and altered documents, which also included fake federal tax filing and incorporation documents with altered information. Mohan initially wanted over $5.5 million through eight fraudulent disaster loan applications and in order to claim these benefits, the fake documents included tax filling of six companies are Zuput, GitGrow, Vangal, Expect Success, Mahenjo Inc and Zigantic LLC.
Only five out of the eight fraudulent loan applications were approved, bringing the total up to $1.8 million. According to sources, the funds were taken in order to help small startups retain their workers during the difficult time of the Covid 19 Pandemic where small startups would not have a steady capital flow. Mohan was arrested in the month of July 2020, for forging fake and altered documents in order to acquire over $5.5 million from Covid relief funds.
Based on the complaints, one particular company he applied loans for with misleading statements and false documents was Mohenjo. This company was purchased by Mohan in May 2020, which at the time did not have any employees or business activities. But according to Mohan’s fake documents the company was said to be in operation from the year 2019 and had employees for whom the company paid millions of dollars for employers salaries and payroll taxes.
Mukund Mohan went on to plead on his blog on 14th August 2020 saying that,
“I hurt people who trusted me, believed in me, and now are beside themselves. Unfortunately, I cannot talk about the details given the legal circumstances, but I truly apologise… I own my mistake, and now I have to course correct. Seeking help is what I am doing. I think the road ahead, though, will be very long,” Mukund Mohan.
Dev Gupta
The charges against Mukund Mohan
Mukund Mohan is now accused of perpetuating a scheme to obtain Covid-19 disaster relief loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Paycheck Protection Program which are under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
According to the press release of the United States Department of Justice, the techie has now been ordered to pay a fine of $100,000 and $1,786,357 in restitution. Mohan is now pleading guilty to wire fraud and money laundering with regard to his scheme of obtaining over $5.5 million under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Mukund Mohan’s past claims for fame
This was not the first time Mukund Mohan has been involved with fraud cases, malpractices and fraudulent claims. From 2008 to 2012, Mohan had also made false claims of being a co-founder of over five startups, investing in 11 companies personally and three other companies through Napkin Stage (an investment firm).
Out of the five startups that were said to be found by him, four startups excluding BuzzGain failed as they didn't raise any funds. Whereas out of the three other companies said to be funded via Napkin Stage, ChargeBee and SignEasy clarified by saying that Napkin Stage was only an advisor and did not fund them.
Anik Banerjee
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mukund Mohan?
Mukund Mohan is a 48-year-old Indian American Tech Executive and a well known Angel Investor.
What did Mukund Mohan get caught for?
Mukund Mohan got sentenced for perpetuating a scheme to fraudulently obtaining more than $1.8 million worth of Covid 19 disaster relief loans.
What are the charges against Mukund Mohan?
Mukund Mohan has been sentenced to two years in prison and has been ordered to pay a fine of $100,000 and $1,786,357 in restitution.
Author: PV Vyshnavi
Source : https://startuptalky.com/mukund-mohan-infamous-investor/
Date : 2021-08-27T19:00:00.000Z