Kane County Reporter

A 22-year-old Aurora man is being held on $3 million bond in connection with a shooting outside a St. Charles nightclub that left one man dead and three others injured.

Accused gunman Michael Carwell may also soon face questions related to the government’s PPP loan program and possible fraud charges. According to FederalPay.org, Carwell has received at least three PPP loans totaling more than $62,000.

Abuse and fraud related to the government-backed program has become rampant with Reason.com pegging the amount the government has shelled out to address the social and economic fallout stemming from the pandemic somewhere in the neighborhood of $4 trillion.

Khalief McAllister died in a hail of bullets outside Trilogy Nightclub on the night of June 26. Authorities have since revealed that he too had received a PPP loan that may have been garnered through fraudaulent means.

Several media outlets have reported Itria Ventures LLC, the source of McAllister’s PPP funds, has been accused of predatory behavior during the COVID pandemic that includes filing numerous lawsuits foreclosing on small business owners

“And the early results bode poorly for proponents of 'big government,' the Reason.com article said, pointing to a new Cato Institute legal policy bulletin that called many of Congress’ signature programs into question.

Even with red flags glaring and the inspector general warning of “widespread fraud,” upwards of $260 billion in taxpayer money has been allocated thus far through the SBA.

“Due to the very nature of Congress' intention to quickly aid those affected by the pandemic and its economic effects, federal relief programs were at an increased risk of improper payments,” Reason.com said. “Still, while it may be that some level of waste is acceptable in an emergency, the SBA's miserable performance is beyond the pale, and serves as a stark reminder of the limitations of 'big government.'"