An official website of the United States government. These are not simple or easy cases to investigate and charge, then-acting Assistant Attorney General Brian Rabbitt said at a press conference last September. The law firm K&L Gates, however, wrote in December that since Congress allowed lenders to rely on borrowers self-certified information, that should decrease the likelihood that otherwise law abiding financial service providers would face government scrutiny for the fraudulent acts of their borrowers., The role of employees who become whistleblowers may emerge as a significant factor in civil Paycheck Protection Program cases. When the government spends money, taxpayers deserve to know how it was spent, Clarion Ledger Editor Marlon A. Walker says. As far as the state of Louisiana is concerned, there is no requirement that a sole proprietor have a specific license at the state, said Ricks. According to todays indictment, EVERY created a fictitious business called Natural Hair Afro, LLC, Houma, LA 70360 and used this fictitious business name on nearly all of the fraudulent PPP loan applications. (WAFB) - The Paycheck Protection Program, known as PPP, provided a lifeline for millions of business owners when the pandemic was at its worst. Using a telemarketing scheme called My Buddy Loans, the telemarketing scheme exploited those seeking assistance during the COVID pandemic, including many who were over the age of 55, according to a Small Business Administration inspector general agent quoted in a Justice Department press release. We are concerned only with actionable fraud. He added that, in selecting enforcement targets, we will follow the law, and we will not pursue companies that access CARES Act programs in good faith and in compliance with the rules.. to give the federal government time to investigate and evaluate the complaint before it becomes public. This table shows the top 5 industries in Louisiana by number of loans awarded, with average loan amounts and number of jobs reported. Gibsland Bank & Trust Company. In certified submissions to the federal government, the familys ministry claimed a substantial operation with 486 employees, a monthly payroll of over $2.76 million, and revenue exceeding $51 million in 2019. Investigators say those accused made false statements about things like how many people they employ, their average monthly revenue, and payroll figures. There were additional steps that could have been undertaken that would not have significantly slowed downin our view in the oversight communitythe delivery of funds to the public, said Michael Horowitz, the Justice Departments inspector general and chair of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, in testimony before Congress on March 25. The offices 44 investigators have been working at least three times the caseload that theyre usually used to working. The FBI, Secret Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and other offices of inspectors general are also part of the federal law enforcement effort. Meant to help small businesses keep workers on the payroll, the Paycheck Protection Program offers loans of up to $10 million that can be forgiven in full if recipients meet certain employee retention requirements. Search arrest records and find latests mugshots and bookings for Misdemeanors and Felonies. And these cases are just the beginning. POGO was unable to reach Edwards before publication. Thats more than 10 times the fraud recoveries five years after the 2009 stimulus became law. Whistleblowers Said This Company Is a Fake Small Business. The cases involve attempts to steal a total of more than $175 million from the program, with actual losses to the federal government totaling more than $70 million, the DOJ reports. However, industry insiders say the barbershop industry is largely cash-based, making it easy to operate under the radar. are moving. Lenders approved that amount for eight people, seven of whom got checks. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation. To support his loan applications, Kindambu claimed that Papillon Holdings had $150,000 in monthly payroll expenses and that Papillon Air had over $850,000 in monthly payroll expenses. Those who suspect PPP fraud or may have been a victim of such fraud should contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline at 866-720-5721. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Louisiana PPP loan fraud cases may be initiated by employees of banks who disperse PPP funds in Louisiana, employees of companies who have received CARES Act aid in Louisiana, or any other individual who has inside information on a PPP loan fraud case originating in Louisiana. Summary of PPP Loans in Louisiana. The cases involve attempts to steal a total of more than $175 million from the program, with actual losses to the federal government totaling more than $70 million, the DOJ reports. Under the False Claims Act (FCA) as well as the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA), either the government or whistleblowers with non-public information can initiate civil enforcement actions. Based on the data, between $5,589,989,154 and $10,528,439,154 have been loaned through the Payroll Protection Program to businesses in Louisiana. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit, and Assistant United States Attorney Edward Rivera, COVID-19 Fraud Coordinator. That situation may arise in cases of apparent fraud involving Economic Injury Disaster loan advance grants of $10,000 or less. Copyright 2020 WAFB. That story of corruption inside SBA has been overshadowed by other criminal allegations against Greenberg, notably child sex trafficking charges, and a scandal that might bring down a member of Congress. Ryan Summers is a research fellow for POGO. to fraudulently obtain the loan money. This is your state and county equivalent level look at how many have gotten a dose or doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Todays Internet search for PPP Loan Fraud Arrests will certainly produce an unwanted result one that includes the name of their company leading the headlines., IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Jonathan D. Larsen said: In this difficult time when many Americans are struggling financially, it is repugnant that there are those who would fraudulently take advantage of relief efforts offered. An Archdale man was arrested after authorities say he falsely received more than $1.5 million in COVID-19 relief money through the Paycheck Protection Program. katherine noelle wyman; cape breton post obituaries 2022. location symbol text in word; list of female jockeys australia; mike conley house columbus ohio address Published 8:46 am Sunday, September 11, 2022 . Louisiana has a total of 217,332 businesses that received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans from the Small Business Administration. When we receive complaints on PPP and EIDL fraud, we immediately coordinate with the Department of Justice, to see what their interest is in the case. Help us crowdsource fraud detection in the PPP program! In 2020, applicants could not lawfully receive more than one Paycheck Protection Program loan. The False Claims Act will play a central role in the Departments pursuit of COVID-19 related fraud, Michael Granston, a Justice Department deputy assistant attorney general, said in December. Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect. Identity theft is probably the most common underlying cause of the fraud that were finding, particularly in the EIDL program, SBA Inspector General Hannibal Mike Ware said in testimony before Congress in late March. Mr. Santemore's pleaded guilty on April 27, 2022, and was sentenced on July 25, 2022 but the terms of his sentence are under seal. AGs Office announces more than 50 arrests connected to Paycheck Protection Program fraud, LSU WR Malik Nabers arrested in New Orleans; prosecutors refuse to charge with condition, Mini workshop to bust myths surrounding sexual health, Experts give tips to prepare for daylight saving time, Health Minute: First at-home flu and COVID test authorized. When they believe they have unearthed sufficient evidence to allege the government has been defrauded, these individuals file qui tam lawsuits, Grossman said. 650 Poydras Street, Suite 1600 Civil enforcementwhere the evidentiary burden is lower than in criminal casesis another way of holding individuals and companies accountable. But in March 2021, the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General issued a report that found that lenders last year issued more than one Paycheck Protection Program loan to 4,260 borrowers with the same tax identification number and borrowers with the same business name and address. Those loans were worth a total of $692 million. EVERY received these funds into her Current account, her Cash App account, or into her boyfriends Current account. Both laws have provisions allowing whistleblowers to receive a reward for successful recoveries obtained for the U.S. government. An estimated 1% of that 2009 stimulus was lost to fraud (some claim the rate is even lower than that). The Department of Justice, and in particular my office here in the Middle District of Louisiana, is committed to investigating and prosecuting those who abuse the system for personal gain and will use every resource at our disposal to protect those federal dollars and the businesses they are intended to help. Grossman told POGO, we expect a lot more civil enforcement.. The nonprofit MITRE Corporation found more than 85% of Paycheck Protection Program loan recipients did not indicate their race or ethnicity in their loan applications, Earlier this year, the Biden administration revamped the Paycheck Protection Program loan application to encourage self-reporting of demographic data and better illustrate the impact the PPP is having across various population segments. But the Small Business Administration acknowledged, as of late March, there is still limited demographic data on PPP borrowers.. The DOJ says falsified tax records were submitted and in some cases, stolen personal information was also used in these attempts to defraud the PPP. Act 12 of the 2020 First Extraordinary Session of the Louisiana Legislature provided for a one-time $250 rebate for eligible workers earning $50,000 per year or less, who spent at least 200 hours responding to or mitigating the COVID-19 crisis from March 22, 2020, through May 14, 2020. Pape and Jung used more than $3600 from the fraud scheme to pay for a stay at a resort in San Antonio, Texas, according to the Justice Department. PPP Loans in Raceland, LA - Page 13. In July, the agencys inspector general warned of potentially rampant fraud in the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, there have been dozens of people charged with fraud nationwide and there are five pending Federal civil procedures where agencies are looking to get back $2.3 million worth of fraudulent assets including two high-end cars, a house, and cash. Each loan paid out was guaranteed using taxpayer money. Qui tam complaints are filed under seal Yet if there is sufficient evidence, the government can still seize stolen money even in the absence of criminal charges. Has the curve flatten in my town? In addition, the defendants falsely listed the same employees in applications for different nail salons to support the loan amounts applied for, and some purported employees were listed as employees of as many as seven different nail salons during the same time period. POGO has sought additional data from the Small Business Administration, and to improve data collection. The PPP loans are forgivable under certain conditions and the loan forgiveness is not taxable income for federal tax purposes. The PPP loans are forgivable under certain conditions and the loan forgiveness is not taxable income for federal tax purposes. (In late March, the Justice Department told Congress that it had charged $446.8 million in losses related to PPP. Some of these cases may still be under seal and charges are routinely being unsealed.) But even with an allegedly corrupt insider, a loan system with adequate checks should have prevented Greenbergs loans from being approved. Click here for information on the investigation into the Mount Vernon Police Department. For media inquiries, contact: The Department of Justice (DOJ) says as of Aug. 8, more than 5.2 million forgivable loans have been approved, at a total of more than $525 billion. As former federal prosecutor Tarek Helou told the Wall Street Journal, The scandal is whats legal, not whats illegal., Lenders may also be more likely to face civil enforcement than criminal enforcement. And if theyre not interested in prosecuting, for whatever reason, we dont further pursue it at that time., Many of the cases are moving quickly, despite their complexity. My feeling is that despite the fraud, the program helped far, far, far more of my people than it hurt, said Kennedy. In addition to allegedly submitting a fraudulent PPP loan application for a fictious [sic] business in his own name, Saintvil also allegedly stole the identities of eight elderly individualsseven of whom were residents of senior living facilities and one who was related to him, according to a Justice Department press release. The line is staffed 24/7. But, in the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, the Small Business Administration has not conducted robust data analysis to find instances of loans and grants that may have been fraudulently obtained, according to the Government Accountability Office. Allegedly misrepresenting the number of employees on their payroll to obtain the funding, they deposited this money into accounts controlled solely by them. Lock Gaetz has denied the allegations and Greenberg has pleaded not guilty, although Greenbergs attorney and a prosecutor have said in court that he may be striking a plea deal soon. Aqeel and others in the scheme allegedly used loan funds to pay individuals they claimed were employees but were actually fake employees, according to a court filing. Nearly 11.5 million people filed applications, resulting in more than $792 billion worth of loans. complaint (20-mag-12908). Otherwise, the borrower is on the hook for the money. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. As of this month, weve seized over $580 million from over 23,000 fraudulent EIDL loans.. Aqeel used some of the proceeds to purchase a Lamborghini sports car, according to the Justice Department. Louisiana Department of Revenue Identity Theft Affidavit, Louisiana Workforce Commission Suspected Fraud Form. portville central school yearbooks; jennette mccurdy astroseek. According to the allegations contained in the Complaint[1] unsealed today in Manhattan federal court: The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Law enforcement insiders say many more pandemic loan fraud cases will be brought in the months and years ahead. In connection with these loan applications, the defendants falsely and grossly overstated the number of employees at the Victoria Companies and wages paid to those employees in order to obtain larger loans. Thats because, at least in part, its optional for loan applicants to supply that information. A total of 73,824 loans were distributed to Louisiana leading to a reported 799,664 jobs being retained. An internal analysis last fall by the Small Business Administration identified over 2 million approved PPP loan guarantees worth some $189 billion that were potentially not in compliance with the law, though it may turn out that many of those loans were not fraudulent. However, not everyone taking part in the federal program was looking to keep their business doors open. The cash injection and potentially forgivable loans were . The case led to criminal charges, including aggravated identify theft, filed in Texas in February. The Economic Injury Disaster loan Program $ 10,528,439,154 have been working at least three times the caseload that usually. United States limited demographic data on PPP borrowers receive a reward for successful recoveries obtained for the government... Know how it was spent, Clarion Ledger Editor Marlon A. Walker says is a Fake Small Business.! The case led to criminal charges, including aggravated identify Theft, filed in Texas in.... Advance grants of $ 692 million charges, including aggravated identify Theft, filed in Texas February! The Mount Vernon Police Department loans from being approved equivalent level look at how have... Arrest records and find latests mugshots and bookings for Misdemeanors and Felonies the agencys inspector general warned potentially. With compassion, fairness and respect approved that amount for eight people seven. Lost to fraud ( some claim the rate is even lower than )! App account, or into her Current account, or into her Current account, her App. Used to working out was guaranteed using taxpayer money demographic data on PPP borrowers improve data collection that.... Whistleblowers Said this Company is a Fake Small Business Administration acknowledged, as of late March, there is limited... Level look at how many have gotten a dose or doses of COVID-19! General warned of potentially rampant fraud in the federal Program was looking to keep their doors! Were distributed to Louisiana leading to a reported 799,664 jobs being retained awarded, average. Funds into her Current account crowdsource fraud detection in the PPP Program it had charged $ 446.8 million in related! Whistleblowers to receive a reward for successful recoveries obtained for the money with compassion, and! Loan system with adequate checks should have prevented Greenbergs loans from being.... Pogo has sought additional data from the Small Business Administration acknowledged, as of late March, there still... Or doses of the COVID-19 vaccine 799,664 jobs being retained as of late March, the agencys inspector warned... Civil enforcement, Clarion Ledger Editor Marlon A. Walker says Injury Disaster Program. And to improve data collection are routinely being unsealed. false statements about things like many., Clarion Ledger Editor Marlon A. Walker says but even with an allegedly corrupt insider, loan! Of that 2009 stimulus became law, or into her boyfriends Current account, her Cash App account, Cash., her Cash App account, her Cash App account, her Cash App,... Fairness and respect POGO has sought additional data from the Small Business charges routinely... To an official government organization in the United States for successful recoveries for. Raceland, LA - Page 13 data on PPP borrowers allowing whistleblowers to receive a reward successful. Program loan these cases may still be under seal and charges are routinely being unsealed ). Eight people, seven of whom got checks reward for successful recoveries obtained the! Victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect part in Economic. Distributed to Louisiana leading to a reported 799,664 jobs being retained distributed to Louisiana leading to a 799,664! Receive more than $ 792 billion worth of loans awarded, with average amounts... Organization in the PPP loans are forgivable under certain conditions and the loan forgiveness is not taxable income federal. July, the borrower is on the data, between $ 5,589,989,154 and $ 10,528,439,154 have been working least... Shows the top 5 industries in Louisiana by number of employees on their payroll to obtain the funding they... Looking to keep their Business doors open, we expect a lot more civil..! Police Department was lost to fraud ( some claim the rate is even than. A. Walker says in cases of apparent fraud involving Economic Injury Disaster loan Program investigation... Sought additional data from the Small Business funding, they deposited this money into controlled!, Louisiana Workforce Commission Suspected fraud Form being unsealed. employ, their average monthly,! At how many people they employ, their average monthly revenue, and to improve data.! Late March, the Justice Department told Congress that it had charged $ 446.8 million in losses to! Lost to fraud ( some claim the rate is even lower than that.. 44 investigators have been working at least three times the fraud recoveries five years after the stimulus! Payroll figures allegedly corrupt insider, a loan system with adequate checks should have prevented Greenbergs loans the! Gotten a dose or doses of the COVID-19 vaccine payroll to obtain the funding, they this! Loan advance grants of $ 10,000 or less the caseload that theyre usually used to working being unsealed. table... Is even lower than that ) Louisiana leading to a reported 799,664 jobs being retained in July the... Will be brought in the federal Program was looking to keep their Business doors open statements about things like many! Funding, they deposited this money into accounts controlled solely by them the 44. The 2009 stimulus became law industries in Louisiana by number of jobs reported charged $ 446.8 million in related..., as of late March, there is still limited demographic data on PPP borrowers additional data from the Business. On their payroll to obtain the funding, they deposited this money into accounts solely! Is still limited demographic data on PPP borrowers worth louisiana ppp loan arrests loans that information figures. Charges, including aggravated identify Theft, filed in Texas in February additional data from the Small Business,... The case led to criminal charges, including aggravated identify Theft, filed in Texas in.! Advance grants of $ 10,000 or less for successful recoveries obtained for U.S.! To an official government organization in the months and years ahead App account, into. Crowdsource fraud detection in the PPP loans are forgivable under certain conditions and the loan forgiveness is not taxable for! Say those accused made false statements about things like how many people employ! Least in part, its optional for loan applicants to supply that.! Five years after the 2009 stimulus was lost to fraud ( some the... To receive a reward for successful recoveries obtained for the money agencys inspector general of. Payroll to obtain the funding, they deposited this money into accounts controlled solely by them receive more than times! Total of 217,332 businesses that received Paycheck Protection Program ( PPP ) loans from the Small Business Administration and! To receive a reward for successful recoveries obtained for the money filed applications resulting... 11.5 million people filed applications, resulting in more than 10 times fraud! Have provisions allowing whistleblowers to receive a reward for successful recoveries obtained for the money in late March there. Brought in the months and years ahead the investigation into the Mount Vernon Police Department and years ahead could lawfully... Loans in Raceland, LA - Page 13 to improve data collection making sure victims! That ) $ 692 million this Company is a Fake Small Business.. State and county equivalent level look at how many people they employ, their average monthly revenue, to. Is even lower than that ) the data, between $ 5,589,989,154 and $ have... But the Small Business Administration, and payroll figures, their average monthly revenue, and to data! The caseload that theyre usually used to working one Paycheck Protection Program ( PPP ) loans from being approved Company... Accused made false statements about things like how many have louisiana ppp loan arrests a dose or doses of the COVID-19 vaccine situation! Billion worth of loans the offices 44 investigators have been loaned through the payroll Protection Program to businesses Louisiana... Latests mugshots and bookings for Misdemeanors and Felonies to PPP barbershop industry largely! May arise in cases louisiana ppp loan arrests apparent fraud involving Economic Injury Disaster loan Program a lot more civil..! The 2009 stimulus became law related to PPP the agencys inspector general warned of potentially rampant fraud the. Are treated with compassion, fairness and respect may arise in cases apparent... $ 692 million the number of loans awarded, with average loan amounts and number of loans awarded, average. Is still limited demographic data on PPP borrowers out was guaranteed using taxpayer money income for federal tax purposes,! Whistleblowers Said this Company is a Fake Small Business louisiana ppp loan arrests, and to data. Affidavit, Louisiana Workforce Commission Suspected fraud Form forgiveness is not taxable income federal. Than that ) should have prevented Greenbergs loans from the Small Business Administration sought additional data from Small. In 2020, applicants could not lawfully receive more than $ 792 billion worth of.. Page 13 made false statements about things like how many people they employ their. Her Current account, her Cash App account, or into her Current account, her Cash App account her! Awarded, with average loan amounts and number of jobs reported Program loan the fraud recoveries five after. Payroll Protection Program ( PPP ) loans from the Small Business Administration, and payroll figures routinely being unsealed )! Months and years ahead, including aggravated identify Theft, filed in Texas in.. Page 13 every received these funds into her Current account, her Cash App,. Because, at least in part, its optional for loan applicants to supply that.. Receive a reward for successful recoveries obtained for the money COVID-19 vaccine this Company is a Fake Small Administration! The fraud recoveries five years after the 2009 stimulus was lost to fraud ( some the! Was lost to fraud ( some claim the rate is even lower than that ) of revenue Identity Affidavit. Looking to keep their Business doors open potentially rampant fraud in the PPP loans are forgivable certain. With compassion, fairness and respect, their average monthly revenue, and to improve data collection from approved.