A Pembroke resident was sentenced in federal court for fraudulently obtaining more than $1 million in CARES Act funds and using the money to purchase a golf course, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan.
Michael Kirouac, 38, received a sentence of 15 months in prison and one year of supervised release from U.S. District Judge Joseph Laplante. Kirouac had pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud on October 3, 2025.
“The defendant stole over a million dollars from taxpayers amidst one of the worst health and economic crises in a century,” said U.S. Attorney Creegan. “This office will continue to vigilantly investigate and prosecute those who defraud pandemic relief programs.”
Special Agent in Charge Christopher F. Algieri with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Northeast Field Office commented, “The defendant misappropriated critical funds intended for legitimate businesses harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This sentencing underscores the VA OIG’s commitment to safeguarding taxpayer funds and protecting the integrity of government assistance programs.”
Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office added, “Today’s sentencing of Michael Kirouac demonstrates IRS-CI’s continued commitment to prosecuting all those who took advantage of the CARES Act for their own undue self-enrichment. Kirouac defrauded a federal program designed to help those most in need at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic with the intent of misappropriating these funds to purchase a golf course, while others, who were truly in need, struggled.”
Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic to provide financial support for individuals and small businesses impacted by the crisis. The law established several relief measures including programs like Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans—intended for payroll expenses—and expanded access to Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs), which were also meant for payroll or business-related costs such as rent or mortgage payments.
Kirouac owned or controlled four companies: HK Manchester, HK Loudon, HK Hudson, and HK Pelham. He applied for EIDLs totaling over $1 million on behalf of these entities and certified that he would use loan proceeds solely as working capital—not for personal expenses or relocating businesses.
In 2021, after being unable to secure financing through banks or private lenders while seeking to buy a golf course, Kirouac obtained EIDLs through two companies under his control—HK Manchester and HK Loudon—and used about $600,000 from these loans toward purchasing Angus Lea Golf Course in Hillsborough, New Hampshire. He also misused EIDL funds received for HK Pelham.
Additionally, Kirouac secured a $260,500 EIDL for HK Hudson even though he had already agreed to sell that company before signing for the loan; this information was not disclosed to the Small Business Administration.
The investigation was led by offices including Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General (OIG), IRS Criminal Investigations division, and SBA’s OIG. The Department of Justice’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section assisted with prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen.
Individuals with information about suspected COVID-19 related fraud can contact authorities via phone at 866-720-5721 or submit details online through https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
