Former Rapids Theatre owner sentenced for COVID relief fraud

Jan 22, 2026 - 07:00
Former Rapids Theatre owner sentenced for COVID relief fraud
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- The former owner of the Rapids Theatre was sentenced to 14 months in prison after receiving more than $1.8 million in COVID-19 relief funds from fraudulent loan applications, the United States Attorney's Office announced Wednesday. Officials said that John L. Hutchins, 72, of Lewiston, filed fraudulent loan applications between March 2020 [...]