Anatomy of an American Railroading:

The Targeting of Chris and Erin Mazzei

In a country that once promised fairness, justice, and the chance to rebuild, Chris and Erin Mazzei's story is a sobering cautionary tale of what happens when the federal government turns desperation into a crime and turns law-abiding entrepreneurs into scapegoats.

Since May 2021, the Mazzeis-parents, business owners, and creatives-have been caught in the jaws of a system more concerned with headlines than truth. Their only 'crime'? Trying to survive, rebuild, and reinvest during the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before the world shut down, Chris and Erin ran a thriving catering business and were on the verge of producing an inspiring television project called Ohana, a family-focused crime drama set in Hawaii.

Chris applied for the loans based on advice from multiple sources, including loan Originators, SBA guidance, and small business webinars. The PPP payroll projections were not arbitrary-they were based on a pre-COVID budget created for the Ohana series, which had been in development since early 2019.

The seizure froze the family financially, tore apart their planned production in Hawaii, and forced Erin to list their Oahu condo on VRBO just to pay bills. This very act was later used in court as “evidence” that the condo was never intended for production use-despite corporate filings, pitch decks, a teaser trailer, and countless emails that prove otherwise.

In court, AUSA Yates made several claims that have since been debunked by factual documentation. He told the court that the Mazzeis used PPP funds to buy a billboard to get Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's attention for their show-an assertion directly contradicted by receipts and invoices showing the billboard was purchased months *after* all assets had been seized and paid for by a family friend.

Another lie involved accusations that the couple paid off their home mortgage using PPP funds-again disproven by mortgage forbearance documentation and statements.

A major red flag happened 12 days after the Mazzei’s were sentenced. The AUSA forced their home of ten years into foreclosure before sentencing with the judges blessing. Then at the foreclosure sale Federal agents were actively bidding on the Mazzei’s house using the almost $1.2 million that the Mazzei’s had already been paid back as the agents’ personal piggy bank.

The court transcripts also reveal a deeply disturbing motive: the judge openly stated that the reason for such harsh sentencing was deterrence-to send a message to others. Not justice. Not public safety. Not rehabilitation. Just optics. A punishment intended for publicity and headlines, not principle.

The Ohana project was more than a script-it was a movement. The series explored the underbelly of Honolulu's crime world in the 1990s, drawing inspiration from real stories of mob operations and deep-seated government corruption.

Despite the enormous obstacles, Chris and Erin refused to give up. They even used personal funds to place a billboard in Los Angeles as part of a last-ditch effort to keep Ohana alive and help the Hawaiian film industry that was hit hard by Covid.

Since their targeting, the Mazzeis have lost nearly everything: their businesses, their creative dreams, their assets, and-most painfully-their time together as a family.

But through all of this, Chris and Erin refused to let the government steal their purpose. Amid the wreckage, they built something new: a boutique 24-hour private gym, designed to serve their community with strength, independence, and wellness.

Leaders such as Pam Bondi, Alice Marie Johnson, Ed Martin, and Kash Patel have all received documentation detailing the misconduct in the Mazzei case. As of last week, Kash Patel has sent those documents to the FBI's Los Angeles office, urging them to investigate the actions of the AUSA and the potential misconduct and violations of due process.

Even Roger Stone, political operative and commentator, took notice. In a post on his Substack *Stone Cold Truth*, Stone described the Mazzeis' case as a prime example of prosecutorial abuse and scapegoating by a federal government desperate to restore credibility after widespread PPP mismanagement. On June 3, 2025, Roger Stone also had Chris Mazzei on his radio program in the hopes that his story will make it up the latter to President Trump desk.

Until then, Erin remains behind bars. Chris remains separated from his wife. Their children remain without their mother. But in a gym lit with persistence, in a community strengthened by pain, the Mazzeis' legacy is being rewritten-not by the government, but by their grit.

 

To hear more about the Mazzei's story it was featured by Roger Stones  at the following Link: https://www.stonecoldtruth.com/p/an-american-railroading-the-case

and

Chris Mazzei was a guest on Roger Stones National Radio program on June 3rd, You can listen to it here: https://youtu.be/woI-tYlQixY?si=AU-QmH8JRUVa4g9w