David Staveley falsely claimed to co-own four large businesses in need of nearly $544,000 (£399,000) in support from a federal government programme.
After being charged last year, Staveley staged a suicide and fled using false identities and stolen licence plates.
He is the first person to be charged with fraudulently seeking the loans.
Prosecutors condemned his actions in their sentencing memo: "He saw the economic emergency created by the pandemic simply as an opportunity to make himself rich by taking for himself what was meant for those in need."
