Former Olympic medalist Allison Baver accused of stealing $10M in COVID-19 aid to help finance movie

Former Olympic medalist Allison Baver accused of stealing $10M in COVID-19 aid to help finance movie

Allison Baver

Former Olympic speed skating champion Allison Baver has been accused of fraudulently obtaining $10 million in COVID-19 relief aid. She apparently used part of the money to help finance an Elijah Wood film. According to the prosecutors, Baver had filed numerous applications for Paycheck Protection Program loans in April 2020.

The 41-year-old claimed to have as many as 430 employees and a monthly payroll of over $4 million for her entertainment company. But apparently, the company had no employees and no monthly payroll. Allison Baver has been charged with eight counts of making a false statement to a bank and one count of money laundering said a news release.

Allison Baver faces 40 years in prison

Allison Baver
Allison Baver

Allison Baver won a bronze medal in the women’s 3000m relay in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The win came on the back of a devastating year for the speed skater. Baver had shattered her ankle and broke her leg in a world cup meet a year earlier. And made a strong comeback on the big stage.

FS Video

Baver recently had a small role in the film “No Man of God,” about the serial killer Ted Bundy which starred Wood. According to reports, the Olympic medalist transferred $150,000 to the film’s production company. A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney for Utah says Baver faces 30 years in prison on the bank fraud counts and 10 years on the money laundering count.

Also Read | 5 Players who can replace Paul Pogba if he leaves Manchester United