Carmine G. Agnello Jr., grandson of deceased mob boss John Gotti, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 relief funds intended for small businesses struggling during the pandemic.

Agnello pleaded guilty to collecting more than $1 million in fraudulent small-business loans from federal programs designed to help businesses affected by the pandemic. Court records indicate he obtained $1.1 million through the scheme.

Prosecutors said Agnello used some of the fraudulently obtained funds to invest in cryptocurrency rather than for legitimate business purposes as required by the relief programs. The loans were part of federal initiatives created to provide financial assistance to businesses impacted by COVID-19 economic disruptions.

The case represents one of numerous prosecutions related to pandemic relief fraud that federal authorities have pursued since the programs were established. Investigators have worked to recover funds and prosecute individuals who exploited emergency assistance programs during the health crisis.

Agnello is the grandson of John Gotti, the former head of the Gambino crime family who died in prison in 2002 while serving a life sentence for murder and racketeering.