Crowdfunding | Massachusetts | Covid-19 Fraud

On March 17, 2025, Donald Nchamukong pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to charges related to a conspiracy to import and sell illegal pharmaceuticals, including opioids, a crime brought to you today with funding from fraud – a COVID-19 loan scheme filed by Nchamukong using shell companies. Crowdfunding is the practice of funding a project or venture by raising capital from many people. With over 20% fraud rate, it sometimes feels like the CARES Act was nothing more than a crowdfunding opportunity for fraudsters.

From 2019 and continuing into 2022, Nchamukong and a co-conspirator, Doyal Kalita, distributed drugs to United States customers via the internet and call centers in India. Nchamukong used shell companies, including a dietary supplements company and an auto parts supplier, and associated bank and merchant accounts to process the sales of illegal foreign drugs, including Tramadol, a Schedule IV opioid.

Tramadol, used in treating chronic pain, can be addictive when taken for a long period of time or in larger doses than prescribed. But Nchamukong wasn’t prescribing! He was just selling. Nchamukong and Kalita received the shipments of Tramadol from India and reshipped the drug to customers, prescription or not, across the United States, including in Massachusetts – all activities that were supported by the U.S. taxpayer. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Nchamukong and Kalita fraudulently obtained a $200,000 Economic Injury Disaster Loan to fund their illegal drug scheme.  

Sentencing for Nchamukong is scheduled for June 25, 2025.

Great job by the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force.

Today’s Fraud of The Day is based on article “Michigan man pleads guilty to role in opioid smuggling, COVID-19 loan fraud scheme” published by Click on Detroit on March 17, 2025.

Michigan man Donald Nchamukong has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to charges related to a conspiracy to import and sell illegal pharmaceuticals, including opioids. Court documents said the scheme was funded by fraudulently obtaining a COVID-19 pandemic relief loan.

The 37-year-old admitted to conspiracy to smuggle goods into the United States, commit loan fraud, and distribute controlled substances. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton has scheduled his sentencing for June 25, 2025. Court documents revealed that from 2019 to 2022, Nchamukong and co-conspirator Doyal Kalita distributed drugs to U.S. customers via the Internet and call centers in India.