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La Baguette settles federal lawsuit for $430K in fraudulent PPP claims

Original post made on Feb 3, 2023

A Palo Alto bakery has settled a lawsuit with the federal government for making false claims to acquire $430,000 through a program designed to help struggling businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read the full story here Web Link posted Friday, February 3, 2023, 5:11 PM

Comments (11)

Posted by NeilsonBuchanan
a resident of Downtown North
on Feb 3, 2023 at 5:37 pm

NeilsonBuchanan is a registered user.

Thank you (PAO) for this report. I did not know what type of comment to check when writing this short comment. Perhaps the most appropriate category is "Crime and Incidents"?

The news seem to be simple fraud subject to penalties and restitution. Mr. Bryan Quesenberry found his whistle and has been recognized with financial rewards for his due diligence. If there are more cases to be opened and closed, then the issues do go beyond Palo Alto. I urge our local newspapers to report on regional and local fraud.


Posted by MyFeelz
a resident of another community
on Feb 3, 2023 at 6:25 pm

MyFeelz is a registered user.

There is a website where you can look up anybody who applied for and got PPP loans. From the outset, recipients knew they were going to be forgiven. Web Link That's the site to look up anybody you want to get whistleblower rewards from, and MANY of those who got their payola from the government knew it was free money. There was no oversight when the money was being passed out. Now the government wants us to do their dirty work for them. I have to think hard about how badly I want a reward, by taking food out of children's mouths. I've known about this since it started, people who were passing the word, "pssst -- there's free money out there!" and no, I never took the bait. But, I do know of some world travelers who made the most of their loans once airlines opened service and faraway places opened back up for tourism. I'm pretty sure that's not how the money was supposed to be used.


Posted by MyFeelz
a resident of another community
on Feb 5, 2023 at 11:38 pm

MyFeelz is a registered user.

Awfully quiet in here. Everybody rushing to find out how to pay back their ill-gotten gains? LOL. Don't worry. The Feds can't get a PA resident to turn narc. It would be like my favorite reference to situations like this: Mormon Crickets. Web Link YUCK. I have driven those roads where there's so many of them it looks like the asphalt is moving. Their favorite meal is other crickets. So, yeah, turning in your friends who are busy turning YOU in is like a cannibalistic feast!


Posted by Claude Ezran
a resident of Leland Manor/Garland Drive
on Feb 6, 2023 at 11:30 am

Claude Ezran is a registered user.

La Baguette just wanted to make some extra dough...


Posted by historyguy
a resident of Portola Valley
on Feb 6, 2023 at 11:45 am

historyguy is a registered user.

Such fraud is stealing from every taxpayer. Why would/should any citizen patronize such a business? I know I won't. Whistle blowers are civic minded folks who see wrong doing and report it. Good for them.


Posted by Steven Hardy
a resident of Crescent Park
on Feb 6, 2023 at 1:26 pm

Steven Hardy is a registered user.

Stealing COVID relief funds is despicable. Why does Stanford allow this criminal venture to continue operations on its property?


Posted by Rose
a resident of Mayfield
on Feb 6, 2023 at 1:42 pm

Rose is a registered user.

[Post removed.]


Posted by Novelera
a resident of Midtown
on Feb 6, 2023 at 3:11 pm

Novelera is a registered user.

Wow! I knew there was a lot of fraud. The first round of PPP loans were the most outrageous. Big banks like Chase, Wells, and BofA cherry picked and their big customers got fast approval. Finally someone wised up and they had a second round of PPP loans for which to apply. These were reserved for small, local and/or minority owned banks. Our company got over $300K in the second round. The process of explaining where you spent it was grueling. Ultimately the loan we got ended up being forgiven as all having been spent on payroll. We could have included rent, medical insurance premiums for our employees, etc., but we included only actual payroll. I know ours was straight up and honest. We even opened another checking account for these funds, so it was crystal clear where the money went.


Posted by Native to the BAY
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on Feb 6, 2023 at 4:59 pm

Native to the BAY is a registered user.

@MyFeelz

And so goes their name in the true since. Le Baguette (the bread) growing their tax free dough while many can’t afford to provide our children even a loaf . Sour PPP on Le Baguette!


Posted by green acres II resident
a resident of Green Acres
on Feb 7, 2023 at 9:25 am

green acres II resident is a registered user.

This is an extremely popular caffe in the Stanford Mall. I ask those who visit this place to STOP PATRONIZING an institution that defrauds the federal government. IMO, this business does not deserve to thrive.


Posted by MyFeelz
a resident of another community
on Feb 7, 2023 at 5:15 pm

MyFeelz is a registered user.

@green acres look at the SBA site where you can look up everyone who got a forgiven loan. There are more businesses that should be called out.

@Native to the Bay -- sour PPP dough! By the slice or the baguette!


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