A senior contracting officer at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has been charged with fraudulently obtaining pandemic relief funds. Yusuf Akoll, a Senior Procurement Contract Specialist, allegedly created a fake company to secure Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling approximately $16,666. Prosecutors claim Akoll registered Naagode Consulting LLC in Virginia in November 2020 and falsely stated it was established in January 2020 to qualify for the loans. He also reportedly claimed the company had $40,000 in income in 2019, despite it having no income.
The case highlights concerns over the government’s disbursement of pandemic relief funds. The Small Business Administration (SBA) did not verify Akoll’s claims against state corporation records or federal tax returns, allowing the fraudulent loan applications to be approved. This oversight is indicative of the “pay and chase” model adopted during the pandemic, where funds were disbursed quickly with the intention of addressing fraud later—a strategy that has faced criticism for its laxity.
Further scrutiny has been directed at the Biden administration’s decision in 2023 not to pursue collection on PPP loans under $100,000, citing “equity.” The SBA’s inspector general criticized this move, stating it was “not in compliance with applicable criteria” and could encourage future fraud. The Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, established to oversee the distribution of pandemic relief funds, was nearly defunded in March 2025, despite having open investigations into $577 million in suspected fraud.
Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), leading the Senate’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Caucus, has been vocal in advocating for continued oversight and accountability in pandemic relief funding. She emphasized the importance of maintaining the inspector general’s office to prevent and address fraudulent activities.
