Allentown Woman Admits $1M COVID Loan Fraud

Mayerlyn Cordero, a 48-year-old Allentown woman, pleaded guilty to five counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to file false claims in a scheme involving federal COVID-relief programs. Prosecutors say she submitted 13 fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications that resulted in about $1 million in funded loans, including applications with inflated employee figures and false tax documents. Authorities also say she filed 23 fraudulent tax returns using stolen personal information supplied by a co-conspirator. Cordero is scheduled to be sentenced in February and faces up to 110 years in prison under the statutory maximums for her charges.