Pandemic fraud leads to jail time for a landlord in Scranton Pennsylvania.

Co-owner of Scranton’s Woolworth Mansion sentenced to prison for COVID-19 fraud | By Borys Krawczeniuk | WVIA News Published August 21, 2025 at 2:56 PM EDT A federal grand jury charged that Weiss pretended his companies employed people, sold goods and collected rent when he applied for federal aid meant to prop up companies struggling from the pandemic. The companies had no business operations, according to a federal indictment. Four companies own five residential buildings, where the businesses supposedly operated, according to deeds. Weiss, 43, a Scranton resident, spent the fraudulently collected loans buying other real estate, retail shopping, paying off credit cards and other personal expenses and loaning money to other people and businesses, according to the indictment. The companies were 601 Clay LLC, 1123 Capouse LLC, 1127 Myrtle LLC, 922 Olive LLC, 140 Main LLC, Foote 19 LLC, Stone Close Inc. and Stein Sales LLC. The first four own multi-apartment buildings. Other people owned 140 Main, Foote 19, Stone Close and Stein Sales, but Weiss operated and controlled each, according to the indictment.