The $20,000 is now due back to the government, with some possible jail time as well if shes not lucky. The risk of facing an audit or investigation is significant for companies that received federal loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The case against EVERY began as a result of a referral from the COVID-19 Pandemic Response Accountability Committee ("PRAC") regarding possible fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loans ("PPP"). According to the indictment, Every established a fictional company called Natural Hair Afro, LLC, Houma, LA 70360 and used this fictitious company name on nearly all of the fraudulent PPP loan applications. All rights reserved. Our deep knowledge of this complex and highly sensitive practice area, alongside our stellar track record of major wins against some of the large corporations in the U.S., makes our firm uniquely qualified to represent career professionals stepping out to blow the whistle on Louisiana CARES Act loan fraud. 10 Red Flags for PPP Loan Fraud (Look for These During Your Company's Internal PPP Compliance Investigation) . According to the United States Department of Justice official website, Six individuals were charged in an indictment with fraudulently obtaining approximately $1.5 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans on behalf of five businesses based in Georgia and South Carolina. "Such payments are not authorized use of PPP funds under the CARES Act," the statement said. Age. New Orleans, Louisiana - On September 9, 2022, United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced the indictment of Sharnae Every ("Every"), age 27, of Houston, Texas, who was charged with one count of Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349 and two counts of Mail Fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code . Secret Service said there are currently 900 active criminal investigations into pandemic fraud. Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. So now, he says agencies must go after anyone who might be taking money theyre not entitled to. Every single one of them produced and filed bogus and fraudulent PPP sole proprietor loan applications through numerous online portals, including but not limited to Blueacorn. Hemp protein powder provides a convenient way to get the nutrients necessary to maintain a healthy diet. PPP Detective All Loans (current) Loans By States; About Site; PPP Loans in Monroe, LA - Page 3. The Congregation Of The Roman Catholic Church Of . The movie star joins several other high-profile people among 19 people accused in federal indictments of cheating the government out of millions in schemes that all originated in Georgia. CONTROL UNION USA INC is a Corporation located at SAINT ROSE, LA with 40 employees. Baton Rouge . Published 11:13 am Saturday, September 10, 2022. The Justice Department has brought criminal charges against at least 209 individuals in 119 cases related to Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) fraud since banks and other lenders began processing loan applications on behalf of the Small Business Administration on April 3, 2020. Environmental Safety And Health Consulting Services, Inc. Environmental Specialties International, Inc. Expeditors & Production Services Co. Inc. Family Worship Center Church, Inc. Dba J Immy Swaggart Ministries, Other Services (except Public Administration), Franciscan Missionaries Of Our Lady University, Franklin Parish Hospital Service District#1, Galloway, Johnson, Thompkins, Burr, Smith, Aplc. In less than six months, more than 50 people have been charged with allegedly committing fraud in connection with the program. Florida man buys $4.9M mansion using funds from PPP loan scheme, Attorney's Office says She was arrested and charged with child neglect with great bodily harm, tampering with a witness and . Theyre not checking licenses. 100 people have been arrested so far. STAGE 2 SECURITY LLC is a Subchapter S Corporation located at SOUTH JORDAN, UT with 29 employees. Another woman is currently seeking help on GoFundMe for the same reason. The Department of Justice confirms they are looking into reports of PPP fraud across the nation. PPP-Loan.info. We do not charge attorney fees unless you receive compensation and you are under no obligation after your initial consultation. And these cases are just the beginning. PPP loans were also approved for a number of schools in New Orleans, including Dillard University, which got between $2 million and $5 million to retain 491 employees. The forgivable loans were meant to cover payroll for employees and, later, other eligible expenses at a time when customers werent coming in. Some content may be sourced from press releases or public information/records. If you are privy to inside information on PPP loan fraud in Louisiana, you may be entitled to damages. Louisiana has a total of 217,333 businesses that received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans from the Small Business Administration. Whistleblowers in Louisiana may receive up to 30% of this sum in compensation, along with numerous other protections. The Veterans Administration, Office of the Inspector General, is an active member of the PRAC Fraud Task Force. She was able to get names, birth dates, and social security numbers of others, and submitted fraudulent claims for unemployment benefits in their names, with or without their knowledge or consent. In addition, whistleblowers in Louisiana are eligible for significant compensation in successful PPP loan fraud cases. These individuals were allegedly part of a larger group that together have fraudulently obtained approximately $3.0 million in PPP loans. Once the loans were funded, Everycharged about $3,500.00. Director for the Louisiana SBA District Office Michael Ricks said while that information may raise some red flags on the surface, he explained that not complying with an industrys licensing requirements does not necessarily disqualify someone from being eligible for a PPP loan. Three women, who were employees of U.S. 1. EVERY received these funds into her Current account, her Cash App account, or into her boyfriends Current account. If someone defaults, or cant pay it back, the SBA will still reimburse the lender. 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. 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 $2.3 million worth of fraudulent assets including two high-end cars, a house, and cash. Name Jobs Reported Current Loan Loan Forgiveness; Amount ($) Date Approved Amount ($) Date; SHELTON RESTAURANT GROUP LLC: 500: 4,746,176: April 9, 2020: 4,802,480 NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today the indictment of SHARNAE EVERY ("EVERY"), age 27, of Houston, Texas, who was charged with one (1) count of Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349 and two (2) counts of Mail Fraud in violation of Title 18, United States [] In less than six months, more than 50 people have been charged with allegedly committing fraud in connection with the program. Jan 18, 2023 | Louisiana State News, News, Traffic. A former Pizzeria owner was arrested yesterday for committing after securing Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan funds worth $660,000. In Louisiana, a federal grand jury recently indicted a Plaquemine woman named Lestreonia Rodrigue on fraud charges. Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, Oil and Gas Field Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing, JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Coastal and Great Lakes Freight Transportation, Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly, Waldemar S. Nelson And Company, Incorporated, Support Activities for Oil and Gas Operations, Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services, Catholic Charities Archdiocese Of New Orleans, Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools, Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors, Galloway, Johnson, Thompkins, Burr, Smith, Aplc, Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors, Roofing, Siding, and Insulation Material Merchant Wholesalers. 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. From fabricating false companies to inaccurately representing the number of workers employed, PPP fraud in Louisiana is a serious abuse of federal relief funds that has contributed to . The lender got to keep a fee based on the size of the loan. Per the False Claims Act, the government is entitled to threefold damages in each successful PPP loan fraud case. Together, more than 5.5 million PPP loans were approved totaling more than $557.8 billion. The loan was facilitated by Capital One, National Association, MCLEAN, VA.Of the approved amount, CONTROL UNION USA INC has . Robert De Niro-backed Nobu restaurants took more than a dozen PPP loans worth as much as $28 million . (BRPROUD) The United States Department of Justice has indicted a 23-year-old woman for mail fraud and wire fraud on Friday, July 22. Under the PPP program, the loans don't have to be repaid as long as the money is used for paying employees . If youre going to steal money, finite resources from people who need them, then, by God, were going to prosecute you.. It was this difficult road that we had about a week, but our bankers got it done and, and our businesswomen and businessmen stepped up to the plate and took advantage of it, said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La. The SBA has very broad rules, very, very large leeway on what the lender had to request from the bar to get that guarantee secure, said the SBA Louisiana District Director Michael Ricks. Heatmap of PPP Loans by Zip Code in Louisiana, Number of Loans Issued by Date in Louisiana, Summary of PPP Loans by County in Louisiana, Top 25 Cities in Louisiana by Number of PPP Loans. Two people were approved for that amount twice, and one of those people got paid twice. Nearly a dozen of those people took out two loans. Search Paycheck Protection Program Loan (PPP Loan) list with amount, business name, address, business type and Lender information in Louisiana. . You can search and filter the list of PPP loans. Original content is 2023 Calcasieu.info & BKHagar, LLC. The United States Attorneys Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Veterans Administration, Office of the Inspector General; United States Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General; United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; and the United States Secret Services Cyber Fraud Task Force, consisting of the Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office, Lafourche Parish Sheriffs Office, Thibodeaux Police Department, and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation with this matter. You have to understand from the lenders perspective, really, theyre just looking at income. We provide free no-obligation PPP loan fraud case review for Louisiana residents. Otherwise, the borrower is on the hook for the money. Federal investigators cannot comment on active investigations or give an estimate on how much fraud may have occurred through federal pandemic relief programs, but a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Middle District of Louisiana confirms there were fraudulent applications submitted in Louisiana through several relief programs including the PPP. The case against EVERY began as a result of a referral from the COVID-19 Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) regarding possible fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loans (PPP). 440 Louisiana St #200, Houston, TX 77002 . Researchers estimate that $76 billion in PPP loan money was taken illicitly. Nearly 11.5 million people filed applications, resulting in more than $792 billion worth of loans. My directive to SBA and to the Department of Justice will be to work with our state attorneys general, work with local DHS, work with local sheriffs, and make sure people understand if you steal money, these are these are finite resources, said Kennedy. EVERY primarily used Cash App to receive the initial payments. of Health monitoring COVID-19, Vermont mom, 3 kids OK after being hit by suspected drunk driver, 300-unit housing development proposed in Brattleboro, Texarkana 2-year-old recovering from RSV and COVID-19. Gray also submitted claims for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) benefits in the names of false businesses and based on false business profits and losses. 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. Jan 18, 2023 | Louisiana State News, News. A PPP loan fraud case in Louisiana may involve the vast waste of federal funds for personal gain. Please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus for more information on the Departments response to the pandemic. Both received a PPP loan for $20,832. Using awarded PPP funds for unapproved purposes PPP Fraud Criminal Charges There are 4 common criminal charges for someone accused of PPP loan fraud. Complaints can also be filed online here. 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. Investigators determined there were at least 110 PPP sole proprietor loan applications in and around the Thibodeaux, Louisiana area and they all had the same invoices and federal tax forms (Schedule C) with the same business name and amounts. The largest loan paid out was $20,833. Both the U.S. Attorneys Office and the Louisiana Attorney General have encouraged the community to report suspected fraud. Constantly updated. Loan Amount: $1-2 million: Business Address: 478 S. JOHNSTON STREET, 6TH DLOOR: Jobs Retained: 202: City, State Zip: NEW ORLEANS, LA 70112: Date Approved: 2020-04-28: Business Type: Corporation: NAICS Code: 621112: Race or Ethnicity: Unanswered: NAICS Description: Offices of Physicians, Mental Health Specialists: Gender: Male Owned: NAICS Category: Health Care and Social Assistance: Veteran During round 1 of the paycheck protection program, STAGE 2 SECURITY LLC requested a PPP loan for 460100 USD. Louisiana whistleblowers in successful PPP loan fraud cases are compensated for their efforts and have the satisfaction of exposing fraud and abuse. (Credit: iStock / Getty Images Plus). Filing a PPP loan fraud case against your Louisiana employer or another entity in Louisiana is an act of moral courage that can bring flagrant fraud and waste in check. Louisiana crime statistics. In order for our firm to be considered your attorney there must be a signed agreement between the client and the firm. The line is staffed 24/7. Lenders approved that amount for eight people, seven of whom got checks. For more information on the Departments response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. 00:00. When she electronically filed the fake PPP loan applications, she falsely declared that the applications and information given in the accompanying documents were authentic and accurate. FLORENCE, S.C. . EVERY created all of the false and fraudulent invoices, bank statements, and Schedule Cs. Acts reported in a PPP loan fraud case in Louisiana may constitute wire fraud, bank fraud, money laundering, and other false claims. Making false statements on your PPP application 2. If approved, the SBA pays the lender back using federal funds. Whether or not you share your childs fascination for reptiles, here are the best toys, books and games to excite any reptile lover. If convicted, Every risks a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, or twice the gross gain to the defendant, or twice the gross loss to any victim, and a $100.00 obligatory special assessment charge, per count. 73 Arrests. 1-12. Investigators say those accused made false statements about things like how many people they employ, their average monthly revenue, and payroll figures. The individuals Every recruitedto prepare and submit the false PPP application was charged between $45.00 and $120.00. They were approved on 04/30/2020 by the SBA for an amount of 454079 USD. Financial lenders or fintechs made around 29% of all PPP loans but accounted for more than half of its suspicious loans to borrowers. 104 Arrests. However, not everyone taking part in the federal program was looking to keep their business doors open. EVERY advertised under various aliases on Facebook to recruit individuals to obtain money from the PPP program. EVERYprimarily used Cash App to receive the initial payments. The DOJ says this ill-gotten money was in many cases used to buy luxury personal items like cars, homes, vacation trips, and jewelry. 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. California Man Arrested for $3.6 Million PPP and EIDL Loan Fraud | OPA | Department of Justice Man Sentenced for His Role in COVID-19 Relief Fraud Scheme | OPA | Department of Justice Woman Arrested for Fake COVID-19 Immunization and Vaccination Card Scheme | OPA | Department of Justice Investigations into Burton's bank account show only $616.52 of her loan was used on hair supplies. Its up to the SBA and the Justice Department to go after anyone caught stealing PPP money. Bank fraud The pandemic has forced the government to create different programs to help benefit those impacted most. Floods are going to become more common, so its vital to learn how to prepare, no matter where you live. Applying for multiple PPP loans across multiple lenders, also called "loan stacking" 3. . Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Shes accused of making up fake businesses to collect more than $20,000 through a PPP loan and another $500,000 in prepaid debit cards through unemployment claims. The tool below can be used to search all publicly released PPP recipients in LA. The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of one percent. 89 Arrests. All Data Obtained From the SBA. Gray was able to get over $550,000 in prepaid debit cards in her mailbox, as well as $20,833 to be deposited into her bank account, which she was not entitled to, officials say. In Denton, 97% of the . 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. The Small Business Administration has released a list of businesses that have received emergency pandemic loans.. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. 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