PPE Scam That Cost Millions | Leicester News

A Loughborough couple, Jogesh and Meena Bhandari, were convicted for orchestrating a massive pandemic fraud, swindling U.S. companies out of millions by selling fake COVID-19 PPE. With the help of a corrupt U.S. attorney, they rigged a fake escrow system to siphon payments—never delivering goods like 12 million boxes of gloves or 2.7 million dollars’ worth of hospital-grade nitrile gloves. Using forged documents and fake bank statements, they convinced victims to pay, then funneled the cash into luxury purchases: a $126,000 Porsche, multiple high-end cars, Rolexes, jewelry, and global travel—all while their Loughborough home got a lavish upgrade. The scheme unraveled after a falling out with their associate, Morris, leading to arrests in 2023 and a five-week trial. Labruzzo, their U.S. accomplice, was already convicted. Sentencing is set for August 21st. Authorities warn this exploitation of pandemic urgency harmed businesses and diverted vital supplies, underscoring their relentless pursuit of economic fraudsters. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/93ce95d45245caab