In yet another example of foreign nationals exploiting America’s broken systems, an Armenian-born gangster and over a dozen accomplices were arrested for defrauding American taxpayers out of a staggering \$47 million in COVID-19 relief funds. The dramatic takedown, captured exclusively by Fox News, highlights a troubling pattern: criminals with little loyalty to this country are gaming our generous welfare programs while hardworking citizens foot the bill.
The man at the center of this scheme operated under the alias *William McGrain*, but investigators say he’s anything but an ordinary American. According to Homeland Security, McGrain is the mastermind of a transnational crime syndicate that stole tens of millions meant to keep American small businesses afloat during the pandemic. Instead, the funds were siphoned into shell companies, spent on luxury goods, and funneled overseas to Armenia—beyond the reach of U.S. law enforcement.
Federal agents with the Department of Homeland Security executed a coordinated series of dawn raids on May 29, 2025. In gripping footage aired by Fox News, McGrain was seen surrendering outside his upscale LA-area residence, hands over his head. He and 14 other suspects were taken into custody as part of a sting operation involving multiple agencies.
One DHS official sent a clear warning to would-be fraudsters: “If you’re engaged in fraud, if you’re taking money from the government that doesn’t belong to you, your door could be the next one that we’re hitting.” It’s the kind of tough talk we need more of—and it’s thanks to the Trump-era Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a watchdog agency created to root out the exact kind of corruption Democrats like to ignore.
Court documents revealed that McGrain—described by an informant as “unhinged”—bragged about ties to Armenian gangs and even threatened individuals with a gun and baseball bat. Authorities allege the group created fake documents and fraudulent companies to secure COVID-19 small business loans. Some of the stolen funds were laundered through property purchases and high-end goods, while millions were sent abroad, making full recovery of the money unlikely.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t just a white-collar scheme—it was an organized, deliberate attack on America’s already strained economy, executed by foreign-born criminals who were welcomed into our country and then chose to betray it.
Even more disturbing, many of the suspects had obtained U.S. citizenship. As one furious commenter on social media put it, “We rewarded them with citizenship. Just like with the Somali case. We’re not vetting. We’re not protecting our country.” Another commenter added bluntly, “Get the \$36 trillion back, arrest the perpetrators without bail, then fix the budget with tariffs. It’ll take the blood of patriots, but it will be worth every drop.”
The arrest of McGrain and his crew is just the tip of the iceberg. With the federal government hemorrhaging billions through unchecked fraud, Americans are right to demand accountability. Thanks to the ongoing work of agencies like DOGE—established under President Trump—there’s hope that this kind of corruption will be met with swift justice and serious consequences.
It’s time to stop playing nice. It’s time to clean house.
