Fresno Trucker Sentenced to 14 Months for $1M PPP Loan Fraud

A Fresno man was sentenced Monday to 14 months in federal prison for defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gurjeet Bath, 37, was also ordered to pay a $100,000 criminal fine after pleading guilty to theft of government property, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.

Court documents reveal that Bath, along with family members, managed two trucking businesses named G.S. Bath Inc. and Complete Transportation Solutions in Fresno County. In 2020 and 2021, Bath applied for three PPP loans amounting to over $1 million by falsifying records to exaggerate the number of employees and their wages at his businesses. Rather than using those funds to cover payroll as the program required, Bath used the funds to purchase two parcels of agricultural land in Fresno County.

"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 indictment was filed in August 2024. Bath pleaded guilty on May 27, 2025. The plea agreement included a provision that Bath would pay a $100,000 fine, and he also agreed to forfeit $841,500 and two pieces of real estate, which the plea agreement says were obtained with funds from his PPP loans.

U.S. Attorney Eric Grant framed the sentence as a measure of accountability for conduct that exploited a program built on trust. "During a time when legitimate businesses were struggling to survive, this defendant chose to exploit a program designed to keep workers employed," Grant said. "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."

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Spivak handled the prosecution. Bath was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston.