A California man has been sentenced to more than a year in prison for fraudulently obtaining Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans on behalf of two trucking companies and then using the funds to buy agricultural land.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, Gurjeet Bath, 37, of Fresno, was sentenced to 14 months in prison and ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution on Monday, March 23, 2026.
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On May 27, 2025, Bath pleaded guilty to the theft of government property.
According to officials, Bath and family members operated trucking companies G.S. Bath Inc. and Complete Transportation Solutions in Fresno County.
In 2020 and 2021, Bath sought and received three PPP loans totaling more than $1 million.
Authorities alleged Bath “knowingly falsified records to inflate his businesses’ employees and their wages” to secure the PPP loans.
Bath subsequently used the proceeds from the PPP loans to purchase two plots of agricultural property in Fresno County.
o“During a time when legitimate businesses were struggling to survive, this defendant chose to exploit a program designed to keep workers employed,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “He has since pleaded guilty and repaid the stolen funds, but that does not erase the harm caused. Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of that fraud and our commitment to holding accountable those who abuse programs meant to help our communities in times of crisis.”
“Mr. Gurjeet Bath fabricated employee records and inflated wages to steal more than $825,000 in federal funds meant to keep businesses afloat during a national crisis. Instead, he used that money to buy land in Fresno County. The FBI and our partners at the SBA Office of Inspector General will continue pursuing everyone who treated pandemic relief as a personal slush fund,” said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this matter, with help from the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Inspector General.
