Ex-Olympian speed skater Allison Baver has been charged on Wednesday for fraudulently claiming almost $10 million as Covid relief payments. She received the money from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) She used the money to fund Elijah Wood’s movie “No Man of God” that is based on the story of Ted Bundy.
Federal prosecutors indicted 41-year old Baver, from Taylorsville, Utah. She has been charged on nine counts– eight of which were for making false statements and one charge was for money laundering.
During a period from April 13, 2020 to April 26, 2020, Allison Baver submitted eight different loan applications to two banks–Northeast Bank and Meridian Bank. She was reportedly seeking $10 million in loans through the PPP.
Prosecutors said that the former Olympian speed skater had said that she had a payroll of over $4 million for her entertainment company called Allison Baver Entertainment LLC. She said that she had over 400 employees on her monthly payroll. The reality, however, was that she had no employees.
The company transferred about $150,000 to Elijah Wood’s production company, Company X that made a Ted Bundy biopic. It was called “No Man of God” and starred Elijah Wood, as an FBI agent who forged a relationship with Bundy. Wood is known for his role in The Lord of the Rings. Allison Baver also starred in the movie. She had a small uncredited role according to IMDb but is listed as an executive producer.
Baver has not entered a plea, as yet. According to the indictment, the government wants her to return $9.7 million. She is expected to appear in court for an arraignment hearing early next year–on January 18, 2022.
Allison Baver won a bronze medal in the women’s 3000m relay at the 2010 Olympics held in Vancouver. She had also participated in the Olympics that were held in 2002 and 2006.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, fraud cases increased during the pandemic. In May 2021, the Attorney General set up a COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to deal with the numerous cases of fraud.
