Ex-Olympic figure skater accused of defrauding the US government out of $1.5 million in COVID-19 relief scam

• Former Olympic ice skater Luka Klasinc has been charged with bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

• He's accused of defrauding the US government out of $1.5 million in a COVID-19 relief scam.

• Klasinc, from Slovenia, finished 26th at the 1992 Winter Olympics.

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A former Olympic figure skater is accused of defrauding more than $1.5 million out of a program helping small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York said in a press release on Tuesday.

Luka Klasinc, a former Olympic ice skater from Slovenia who finished 26th at the 1992 Winter Olympics, was arrested on Monday and has been charged with bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Manhattan US Attorney Audrey Strauss said in the press release that Klasinc used falsified documents to access more than $1.5 million in funds from the US Small Business Administration's Economic Injury Disaster Loans program.

"Klasinc thought he could scam his way to easy money," Strauss said. "As alleged, Klasinc used false documents to try and obtain over a million dollars in funds intended to help hard working Americans but, thanks to the diligence of the FBI, his plans have been put on ice. He will now be held accountable for his alleged brazen lies."

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