Political donor admits to Covid relief fund fraud

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Political donor Hormoz Mansouri has admitted to funneling more than $3 million in federal pandemic relief funds into his own pockets.

The 70-year-old pleaded guilty Friday to conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud and bank fraud. This comes only a couple of weeks before Mansouri was set to go to trial and a month after he rejected a plea deal with the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Mansouri admitted Friday to lying on loan applications and inflating payroll expenses to get more than $3.5 million in federal money for eight businesses.

Despite being charged three years ago for federal crimes, the city of Buffalo hired him to be a consultant on two projects.

Federal sentencing guidelines mean Mansouri could serve nearly 3.5 years in prison and then be on probation for up to 5 years.

Sentencing is set for February.