Two Mount Vernon residents are being charged in a $7.5 million COVID-19 fraud scheme.

The U.S. Attorney's office says the money from the Small Business Administration was intended for small businesses.

Instead, the suspects submitted more than 1,000 fraudulent applications - saying the applicants were owners of businesses with 10 or more employees.

The men, Quadri Salahuddin, 25, and Anwar Salahuddin, 35, now face charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making false statements.