| A Mays Landing, NJ man who formerly attended the University of Delaware was extradited from Germany to the United States last week on federal charges of cyberstalking and fraudulently obtaining $1.4 million in pandemic business assistance funds. Federal prosecutors stated Kyle Stevens, 29, moved to Germany in October 2020. He then began sending threatening messages to two female former classmates from the University of Delaware. Over several months, Stevens used multiple electronic platforms to send the victims numerous messages and expressed his intent to kill them. According to the July 2022 wire fraud and money laundering indictment and other publicly filed documents, while Stevens lived in Germany, he applied for ten fraudulent loans or grants under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Stephens is accused of filing applications on behalf of five fictitious businesses and obtained approximately $1.4 million in fraudulent loan and grant disbursements. Law enforcement seized more than $1.1 million of these funds through associated forfeiture proceedings. If convicted, Stephens faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for threats and stalking and 20 years in prison for wire fraud and money laundering. This case is being investigated by the FBI with assistance from the University of Delaware Police Department and the Newark Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Hudson is prosecuting the case with assistance from Eastern District of Pennsylvania Assistant U.S. Attorney Ruth Mandelbaum. |
