Investigations

On September 29, 2021, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Western Distribution, LLC (Western) and its owner, Carl Bradley Johansson, pleaded guilty to bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Johansson also pleaded guilty to multiple felony charges related to criminal conduct that included ordering the illegal repair of a tanker that resulted in an explosion and the death of one employee and failing to file income tax returns for 6 years. While on bond awaiting trial, the trucking company owner also fraudulently obtained more than $667,000 from the Paycheck Protection Program, which is funded by the CARES Act.

 

DOT-OIG is conducting this investigation with the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, with assistance from the Small Business Administration-OIG.