The District of Colorado’s United States Attorney’s Office has announced the indictment of Mathew Barr, a 50-year-old resident of Aurora, Colorado. A federal grand jury has charged him with six counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering. These charges are in relation to his involvement in defrauding a Colorado surveying company and exploiting programs designed to offer emergency relief funds during the COVID-19 pandemic.
From June 2019 until approximately November 2022, Barr is accused of defrauding SurvWest, LLC, the surveying company where he held the majority shares. He allegedly obtained over $843,452 for personal gain, which he used to buy luxury vehicles such as an Aston Martin convertible, a Land Rover Range Rover Sport, and a Mercedes Benz G63.
According to the indictment, Barr was involved in a scheme to deceive the Small Business Administration and other entities in order to secure more than $2.3 million in emergency COVID-19 relief funds. This fraudulent activity took place during the pandemic.
The defendant appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathryn A. Starnella on January 7, 2025 for his initial hearing.
The charges mentioned in the indictment are simply allegations, and it is important to remember that the defendant is considered innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation’s Denver Field Office is currently investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Taylor Glogiewicz and Craig Fansler are responsible for handling the prosecution.
