The man accused of taking the Paycheck Protection Program loan fraud has three cases pending in US District Court in Bangor, the same place where he pleaded not guilty to the charges in May.
As his attorney, Nathan Reardon sued the US government for an alleged violation of his Second Amendment rights, the parent company of News Center Maine for libel, slander and Lowe’s home improvement for an injury he claimed he suffered two years earlier while checking out.
Reardon, 43, of Skowhegan and Plymouth, is charged with five federal counts of bank fraud, three counts of attempted wire fraud, two counts of making false statements to a bank, and one count of perjury.
He secured a $60,000 public-private partnership loan, intended to help companies pay employee wages and other expenses during the early days of the pandemic, in 2020, according to court documents. He allegedly then used the money to purchase a men’s 14 karat yellow gold wedding ring, clothing, shaving products, toys, a barber’s pole lamp and a pair of caiman cowboy boots. The caiman is a species of crocodile found in Central and South America.
After the charges became public, Reardon closed his Taco Shack in Newburgh and abandoned plans to open a location in Bangor.
Reardon remains free on a $5,000 bail. Initially, the conditions did not include a requirement that he not have weapons. That changed on September 30 when US District Judge Lance Walker learned that Reardon was involved in a 2005 road rage incident in which he aimed a loaded firearm at another motorist and reversed the earlier decision.
Reardon describes himself in the complaint as “a father of five, an inventor, entrepreneur and disciplined martial artist who has legally owned firearms since he was 18”. Reardon also claimed that “there were no safety and gun abuse concerns in his life.”
In his lawsuit, Reardon says that this provision violates his Second Amendment right to bear arms and also his right to due process. He is seeking to get his six firearms back.
The Maine State Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the case.
Reardon also sued TEGNA, owner of Channel 2 in Bangor and Channel 6 in Portland, over broadcasts and social media posts that he faces federal charges. He claims that the headline “Man from Skowhegan abuses PPP for personal gain” was not factual and was reported with “intended and blatant intent to disparage the [Reardon’s] name and business reputation.
As a result of the broadcast, Reardon claimed that he was forced to close the Newburgh Taco Shack, losses amounting to $15,000 per month. He also alleged in that complaint that he had to abandon plans to open a taco shack on Center Street in Bangor after “friends, family, and support staff alienated themselves from [him]. “
Reardon is seeking $7 million in damages from TEGNA.
The station’s attorney, Bernard Kubitz of Bangor, who also represents the Bangor Daily News, said Tuesday that Channel Two will prevail in the lawsuit.
“The Maine News Center is confident that the story it has aired accurately reflects court documents relating to Mr. Redin,” he said. “We are confident that the News Center will not be liable for any of the allegations and claims for damages made by Mr. Reardon.”
The third lawsuit, alleges that a clerk at Lowe’s in Brewer “floundered” at the site of a 4×4 fence while Reardon was checking it on December 29, 2019. As he fell toward his head, Reardon allegedly attempted to grab it and injured his thumb and tendon. The injury required surgery and Reardon claims he cannot use his hand for martial arts as he did before the injury.
He is seeking $1 million in damages from Lowe’s, which is based in Mooresville, North Carolina.
Lowe’s office did not respond to an email request for comment on Tuesday.
Reardon did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday’s lawsuits.
Criminal charges were filed against Reardon in April. The complaint alleged that when applying for the PPP loan, Reardon lied about the company’s monthly payroll and expenses. When the loan was approved and the money transferred to his account on April 22, 2020, he had a negative balance of more than $4,000, according to court documents.
Eight days later, Reardon’s company allegedly illegally applied for a second PPP loan using the same false information. The bank denied the request but mistakenly released $59,145 to Reardon’s account on May 4, 2020, according to the affidavit. Two days later, TD Bank identified the error and froze the remaining $28,000 in the account.
Reardon’s trial by jury in Federal Court in Bangor has been set for February 7.
If found guilty of these criminal charges, Reardon faces up to 30 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $1 million. He may also be required to repay the amount of loans, including the money he took in error.
Additionally, Reardon faces state charge.
He was charged with Class B theft in Somerset County for allegedly failing to pay 17 people and two companies between August 14, 2020 and February 27, 2021, according to Somerset County District Attorney Megan Maloney,
He allegedly owes more than $22,000 to plumbers, carpenters, electricians, construction workers and laborers for renovation work on a commercial property.
Reardon pleaded not guilty to that charge last month.
If convicted in state court, Reardon faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000. He may also be required to pay compensation.