No one under pressure of this pandemic wants to fumble on a technicality while legitimately trying to pay employees and keep their lifes work afloat. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]. How does the government miss a well know con artist? For further information please contact the U.S. Attorneys Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. Ahmad Kanan, formerly of Madison, is charged with wire fraud and money laundering. He received $593,590. Brandon Casutt of Henderson, Nevada, is charged with EIDL and PPP fraud to the tune of $500,000. Honestly, I think theyll be finding and prosecuting these for years. Forged account statements. Princess Terry of Memphis is alleged to have filed and fraudulently obtained $290K in PPP loan funds while on pre-trial release in an unrelated healthcare fraud case. A requirement of forgiveness is that borrowers must rehire or retain workers and maintain salary levels. According to prosecutors, the defendants allegedly submitted, or assisted in submitting, PPP loan applications for 14 businesses between April and August 2020. Didier Kindambu is facing charges that he falsified payroll documentation to $2.5 million. Richard B. Russell Federal Building So far, six. Another key aspect of the PPP is that loans issued under the program are eligible for forgiveness if they are used entirely for authorized purposes. According to the U.S. Postal Inspectors are committed to aggressively pursuing investigations in which the U.S. Mails are used to facilitate criminal schemes.In August 2020, DEA and Postal inspectors tracking drugs mailed to the Fayetteville home of 38-year-old Alicia Quarterman found a written ledger with personal and banking information for several individuals, prosecutors said. However, this grace period has expired, and now the SBA Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG), the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and other federal agencies are aggressively targeting companies suspected of engaging in PPP loan fraud. The tool below can be used to search all publicly released PPP recipients in GA. Under the terms of the PPP, utilizing loan funds for personal expenses is expressly prohibited. Allegedly he submitted fake IRS 1099 Forms containing worker social security numbers that were invalid. Authorities also claim he lost $500,000 on risky stock market trades. Melissa Turasky, a Chicago restaurateur, was charged with submitting a fraudulent PPP loan application to obtain more than $175,000 in a forgivable PPP loan. He allegedly certified that his business was operating as of February 15, 2020 (a requirement of the law) and had 247 employees, but didnt even set up a company entity until a few days before applying for the PPP loan. The defendants allegedly took advantage of emergency financial assistance intended for business owners suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, said Acting U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine. Surely the government does a personal credit check on the owner unless he falsified his identity. NINETY-NINE (99%) percent will NOT need to worry and lose sleep and that is because, The U.S. Small Business Administration is a United States government agency. William Sadleir, the ousted head of Aviron Pictures, was charged with wire and bank fraud in connection with a $1.7 million PPP loan. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. The defendants are accused of submitting at least 14 fraudulent loan applications around April-August 2020 in attempts to get more than $14.7 million, the DOJ said. Michael C. Moller was charged with fraudulently seeking $4.7 million in PPP forgivable loan that he applied for in the name of various people including his father, girlfriends brother and girlfriends son. The PPP allows the interest and principal on the PPP loan to be entirely forgiven if the business spends the loan proceeds on these expense items within a designated period of time and uses a certain percentage of the PPP loan proceeds for payroll expenses. But keep it all in perspective. To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Despite the fact that the Paycheck Protection Program was launched in March 2020 with the enactment of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, federal authorities have already identified several hallmarks of PPP loan fraud. Thissearchable website looks at which companies got money from last year's federal program to help businesses retain their workers amid the pandemic economic shutdown. This has caused some entrepreneurs, employers and owners to think twice about applying. Man Uses Forgery to Get EIDL and PPP Loans (North Carolina August 25), 38. He allegedly blew through about $200,000 in Las Vegas casinos, where he was caught on surveillance cameras at a Bellagio blackjack table. All visitors to this Website are informed that Oberheiden P.C. PRIDE Kickball Spring '23 League - Registration Deadline March 9th, Colony Roofers offers services in the Atlanta area, 5 Atlanta Area New Open Houses To Stop By, Jalen Carter Says He Will Be Cleared Of Wrongdoing In Fatal Crash, 3 Atlanta Farmers Markets To Shop Like A Pro, Info Here, 8 Best Places In The Atlanta Area To Take Visitors. Bank of America PPP loans class action overview: Who: Three small businesses are suing Bank of America over its management of PPP loans. Gaines is set to be sentenced on October 6. Six individuals, including the schemes mastermind, Darrell Thomas, have pleaded guilty. Last Updated: 2023-02-05 U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Georgia, Former U.S. Although the amount of the loans, $9,400 and $20,800, are not as large as some on the list, United States government agencies are not giving them any slack. Made Down Payments on Million Dollar Homes (California November 18), 69. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Well at least the Feds got that back. 1014). These purposes include the payment of payroll and related expenses, the payment of insurance premiums, the payment of rent and mortgage interest under pre-existing obligations, and the payment of business utility bills. He allegedly used those funds to buy a 33-foot Cruisers Yacht for $300,000, a $1.13 million rowhouse, and a $46,000 luxury Kia Stinger. Glad theyre doing the work to clean it up and recover some of these funds. Ganell Tubbs, the entrepreneur owner of Little Piglet Soap Company and Suga Girl Customs, an Etsy shop, is charged with fraudulently obtaining nearly $2 million in PPP loan. However, none of the businesses had any legitimate business with any of the businesses or accounts to which they sent the proceeds. Lock Dinesh Sah of Dallas was indicted on charges he filed 15 fraudulent loan applications to 8 lenders in the total amount of $24.8 million. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. I was eventually permanently laid off at the end of June. What are the Red Flags for PPP Loan Fraud? He was arrested after he booked a same-day flight to Pakistan. After obtaining a second search warrant for the cell phones, USPIS inspectors uncovered hundreds of text messages and photos related to an additional crime, fraudulent EIDL and PPP business loans. The charges allege the usual. ATLANTA - Seventeen more individuals have been charged in connection with a fraudulent scheme to obtain approximately $11.1 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and to use those funds to purchase luxury vehicles, jewelry, and other personal items. 4 Of The Best Ice Cream Spots In The Atlanta Area Vegan, Too! One local businesswoman told me she prayed for two weeks before applying because of her fears over confusing requirements. A second PPP2 program was authorized by Congress for $275 billion. Medical Company Owner (Florida July 10), 23. The applications stated that each business had between 59 and 69 employees in February 2020 and averaged approximately $295,000 to $342,000 in monthly payroll expenses. He got up to $5.7 million in loans. NFL player Joshua Bellamy was charged for his alleged role as part of a $24 million COVID-Relief scheme. Dwan Ashong a/k/a Dwan Gilpin, 40, of Jacksonville, Florida, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering in connection with her involvement in several businesses loans. Use our searchable database to see who in Georgia received funds. So many businesses needed federal emergency assistance to stay afloat during a pandemic, and these defendants allegedly misdirected millions of dollars of that assistance money to their own pockets for luxury items, said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. Jean R. Lavanture of Saugerties was arrested for bank fraud for allegedly obtaining $5 million in government-backed loan for companies that had neither employees nor income in recent years. Attila Colar allegedly used several aliases in a scheme to illegally get $22 million from the PPP. Depending on the charges, penalties could include up to $1 million in fines and up to 30 years in prison, legal experts say. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you. Gwinnett County man accused fraudulently filing for millions in PPP loans This comes as federal prosecutors in Georgia continue to make new arrests for PPP fraud. According to Acting U.S. Attorney Erskine, the first superseding indictment, and other information presented in court: From April 2020 through August 2020, the conspirators in the scheme allegedly submitted, or assisted in the submission of, PPP loan applications on behalf of fourteen businesses, seeking loans of approximately $700,000 - $850,000 for each company: All Star Room & Board Services of Michigan Inc. You can also check to see how many workers companies receiving the assistance said they kept on the payroll. In many cases, this will require more than merely recording the transaction itself. 1349, individuals and companies charged with attempt can face the same penalties that apply to the successful completion of a criminal offense (i.e. Or do you want to know whichcompanies got taxpayer-fundedloans? While this information may constitute attorney advertising in some jurisdictions, merely reading this information does not create an attorney-client relationship. Around 1.8 million of the PPP's 11.8 million loans showed signs of fraud, according to an academic working paper cited by The New York Times. Man Uses Aliases to Seek $22 Million (California October 2), 56. Five Charged in Connection With PPP Loans Scheme (Wisconsin/Illinois October 22), 60. Larry Jordan and Sutukh El, two brothers, are charged with fraudulent PPP loan applications to the tune of $7 million, and actually receiving over $600,000. Its intended to offer news and peer perspective on an important issue that affects us as business owners. Assistant U.S. Attorney Miguel R. Acosta is prosecuting the case. Nationwide Federal Defense, Compliance and Litigation. According to the SBA, thePaycheck Protection Program ended on May 31, 2021. To speak with one of our senior federal compliance and defense attorneys in confidence, call 888-680-1745 or request a free PPP risk assessment online now. On January 14, 2021, Judge J.P. Boulee sentenced Green to three years and five months imprisonment and five years of supervised release, and Judge Boulee ordered him to pay $830,000 in restitution, forfeiture of $157,035.71, and a special assessment of $100. Meet Goyal, MD, an ophthalmologist in Rye, New York, was under indictment for healthcare fraud. Lastly, along with all of the red flags for PPP loan fraud discussed above, there are various other issues that can tip off federal authorities during audits and investigations as well. In that same time frame, Lawson allegedly submitted 11 fraudulent PPP loan applications on behalf of many of the same individuals in an attempt to obtain at least $224,000. In addition to fraud, this could have been for a variety of reasons, including companies that owe money to the government and are in a federal Do Not Pay database, or companies that received more than they should have. In August 2021, Ms. VanPelt pled guilted to bank fraud related to submitting six fraudulent PPP loan applications on behalf of six companies she owned or controlled. Other red flags for PPP loan fraud include atypical business activities such as forming new business entities and entering into new debt obligations. Charmaine Redding, pleaded guilty on July 14, 2021 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with the loan obtained by her business, All Star Room and Board Services of Michigan Inc. Reddings sentencing is set for October 21, 2021 before Judge J.P. Boulee. He allegedly laundered funds he received by writing checks for $8,330 each to 23 people. Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said, Goyal allegedly looted over $630,000 in federal funds earmarked for legitimate small businesses in dire financial straits.. A Porsche and Lamborghini (Texas November 17), 68. Every case is different, any prior result described or referred to herein cannot guarantee similar outcomes in the future. The defendants allegedly abused both programs by submitting fraudulent applications and obtaining thousands of dollars that should have gone to support struggling businesses. Are you or your company at risk for facing allegations of PPP loan fraud? He allegedly obtained $200,000 in Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster loans and used the cash for personal expenses. U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran said in a statement, I am pleased that the systems designed to detect and deny fraudulent payments caught his scheme before federal funds went out the door.. 1344. $1,659,747. He also agreed to forfeit various assets, including more than $2.1 million in seized funds, three luxury vehicles a 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S65AMG, a 2018 Land Rover Range Rover, and a 2017 Acura NSX and several items of jewelry, including a gold Rolex. Justice Department announces charges brought against 57 people for PPP fraud, representing $175 million in alleged fraud. He got $5.6 million and sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to Pakistan accounts, and paid for luxury items. Buoi allegedly misrepresented how many wokers he had and that the United States was their primary residence (required). Vegas Business Owner (Nevada August 13), 37. This case is being investigated by the U.S. James McFarland, 56, of Atlanta, Georgia. PPP Loan Recipient List By State Georgia 553,322 TOTAL PPP LOANS $24.9B TOTAL LOAN AMOUNT $44,956 AVERAGE PPP LOAN 5 AVG COMPANY SIZE Georgia has a total of 553,322 businesses that received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans from the Small Business Administration. Here's a list of the PPP loan prosecutions to date: 1. Charles Petty a/k/a Charles Knight, 48, of Atlanta - charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud, bank fraud, wire fraud, false statements to a federally insured financial institution, and money laundering in connection with the loan obtained by Transportation Management Services Inc. Jerry Baptiste, 43, of College Park - charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud, bank fraud, wire fraud, false statements to a federally insured financial institution, and money laundering in connection with the loan obtained by Transportation Management Services Inc. Charles Hill IV, 45, of Norcross - charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering in connection with the loan obtained by his business, Infinite Education Services Inc. Teldrin Foster, 39, of Decatur - charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with the loan obtained by Bellator Phront Group Inc. Denesseria Slaton, 52, of Stockbridge - charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud in connection with the loan obtained by Transportation Management Services Inc. Carla Jackson, 53, of Tucker - previously charged by indictment on August 4, 2020 with money laundering in connection with laundering the proceeds of Gaines Reservation and Travels PPP loan. 22-Year Old Hair Extensions Entrepreneur (Texas September 15), 50. * * * DOJ will almost certainly expect cooperating institutions to provide investigative leads and will likely pursue those leads primarily through its own resources where it can., So imagine this scenario. 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ppp loan frauds list in georgia