A USAID employee responsible for overseeing agency contracts created a fictitious company to illegally obtain coronavirus relief funds for personal gain, federal prosecutors announced Friday.
“Yusuf Akoll worked as a Senior Procurement Contract Specialist at the U.S. Agency for International Development,” according to a previously unreported
Prosecutors allege that in November 2020, Akoll registered a company in Virginia named Naagode Consulting LLC and then applied for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan under the federal COVID-19 relief program. He claimed to be employed by Naagode and stated the funds were needed to avoid layoffs.
However, eligibility for the program required businesses to be operational as of February 2020, prompting Akoll to falsely list the company’s start date as January 2020. To justify the loan, he also claimed the company earned $40,000 in 2019, despite it having no income at all, according to prosecutors.
Akoll was charged with making false statements in Washington, D.C., federal court through an “information,” a filing that typically indicates a plea agreement is in the works, the Daily Wire
Small Business Administration officials failed to verify the company’s formation date—easily accessible through state corporation records—or cross-check the claimed income against federal tax filings, revealing a lack of basic due diligence. It also highlights the kind of oversight gaps the Department of Government Efficiency has focused on addressing as a core part of its mission.
USAID was shut down, and its remaining functions were absorbed into the State Department amid concerns from Republicans and the Department of Government Efficiency over widespread financial mismanagement. According to
Coronavirus relief payments were distributed under a “pay and chase” model, in which the government prioritized rapid disbursement with the expectation that fraudulent claims would be pursued later. However, the Biden administration largely abandoned efforts to recover those funds.
In 2023, the Biden administration announced it would not attempt to collect loans under $100,000 that were technically required to be repaid, citing “equity” concerns. While most loans were designed to be forgiven, recipients who failed to meet forgiveness criteria were still obligated to repay them.
This decision drew criticism from the Small Business Administration’s inspector general, who said the policy “is not in compliance with applicable criteria.” It warned that failing to pursue known fraudsters sends a message that abuse of government programs will go unpunished.
In March 2025, Congress came close to allowing the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR)—the watchdog established to investigate fraud in the pandemic relief effort—to expire, a move that would have effectively ended scrutiny of one of the largest and most disorderly government spending sprees in history.
Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) criticized the office, arguing it had recovered just three dollars for every dollar spent on staffing, less than what he believed was acceptable. However, watchdog group CourtWatch, which pushed for the office’s continuation, countered that SIGPR operated with only a few dozen employees and shutting it down would further hamper efforts to recover misused funds.
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), the head of the Senate DOGE Caucus, fought to keep the inspector general, saying, “I will not allow fraudsters to get away with stealing hundreds of billions of dollars from taxpayers.”The head of Lexis Nexis Risk Solutions testified to Congress that criminals stole
In a stunning shake-up of daytime television, ABC has officially announced that it is canceling
The upcoming show will feature conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, alongside co-hosts Erika Kirk and veteran journalist Megyn Kelly. ABC executives confirmed the move, with one insider stating bluntly,
For years,
The launch of The Charlie Kirk Show signals a direct effort by ABC to pivot toward a different kind of conversation. Known for his outspoken conservative views, Charlie Kirk has built a massive following among younger audiences through Turning Point USA and his digital platforms. Pairing him with Erika Kirk — a media personality and advocate — along with Megyn Kelly, who brings decades of experience in journalism and broadcasting, suggests the network is betting on strong personalities to carry the program.
According to early reports, the new show will focus on cultural debates, political commentary, high-profile interviews, and issues that resonate with audiences who feel overlooked in mainstream media. While critics argue that the change is a risky gamble, supporters say it’s long overdue for daytime television to showcase a wider spectrum of voices.
ABC has not yet announced an official premiere date, but sources indicate the rollout will be accompanied by a major promotional campaign. Industry watchers are already speculating on how the shift could reshape the daytime television landscape — and whether
What is clear, however, is that the era of The View is officially over. With ABC declaring