When $2.7 Million Became a One-Way Ticket | Ohio | Paycheck Protection Program Fraud

An Ohio man in Huron once saw the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) as a shortcut to a better life. Instead, it became a downhill scam—one that cost him more than just money.

Federal prosecutors say Daniel R. Hitlan, 34, lied about his business’s operations to get over $2.74 million in PPP loans. In February 2025, he pleaded guilty to bank fraud and money laundering. By May 20, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Helmick sentenced him to 27 months in prison, plus three years of supervised release and full restitution.

The PPP was meant to rescue small businesses during the pandemic. Instead, Hitlan treated it as a payday—creating fake payroll records, bending the truth about his company, and walking away with more than a lifeline. At trial, investigators painted a picture of deliberate deceit—not of necessity, but of greed.

Hitlan’s sentence, restitution order, and the fallout from his case are a warning: fraud—even when cloaked in hardship—doesn’t shield you from accountability. The ripple effects run wide. Every dollar misused is funding denied to businesses trying to stay afloat. While billions were spent to prop up the economy, schemes like this taint the entire relief effort.

Hitlan’s private walk down easy money lane ended behind federal bars. In a state still picking up from the pandemic, justice hasn’t forgotten—even when trust is betrayed.

Today’s Fraud of The Day is based on an IRS Criminal Investigation press release, “Ohio man sentenced to prison for Paycheck Protection Program loan fraud totaling more than $2m,” published May 21, 2025.