Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., left, and Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., right, speaks with Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in the House chamber as the House . Robert De Niro-backed Nobu restaurants took more than a dozen PPP loans worth as much as $28 million . Staveley and Butziger claimed to have. A judges gavel is shown in a file photo. The Department of Justice says in Feb. 2021, Gray created a scheme to defraud a lender and the United States, through the Small Business Administration, by filing false applications for PPP. When an applicant in Louisiana makes false statements to obtain relief funding--from exaggerating the number of employees on payroll to applying for a loan on behalf of a nonexistent company--there may be grounds for a PPP loan fraud case in Louisiana. Investigations into Burton's bank account show only $616.52 of her loan was used on hair supplies. 1 in D1 baseball preseason poll, Five LSU Tigers listed in D1Softball, Extra Inning, #13 LSU Gymnastics falls to top-ranked Sooners in, Alabama basketball player, 2nd man charged with murder, Top items you will want on hand if your area floods, If your kid is fascinated with reptiles, then theyre, Louisiana state income tax filing begins Monday, Crypto website Bitzlato seized, founder arrested, Fisherman lost at sea after hooking huge tuna, Two sent to hospital after house fire in Baton Rouge, Trump trounces DeSantis in mock primary match-up:, Baton Rouge boutiques selling Mardi Gras shirts,, Baton Rouge teen arrested after student shot while, One dead after late night shooting in Ascension Parish, State Rep. Richard Nelson announces candidacy for, States new building, energy codes could provide, Trump pushes Facebook to unblock his account, Dolly Parton announces new baking collection items, Missing womans husbands search history read in, 97-year-old woman attacked by granddaughter: Police, Baton Rouge duo caught with weed in California arrested, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. Another woman is currently seeking help on GoFundMe for the same reason. The individuals Every recruitedto prepare and submit the false PPP application was charged between $45.00 and $120.00. (WAFB) - Since the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) launched to help businesses pay their employees to prevent great losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some people have of course tried to exploit the program and defraud the federal government of money. Bank fraud However, industry insiders say the barbershop industry is largely cash-based, making it easy to operate under the radar. Thu. A former GOP candidate for the New Mexico legislature was arrested Monday, accused of conspiring with and paying four men to shoot at the homes of four elected officials, appearing to target . PPP loan information is available to the public through the SBA, and several groups have even published that information in the form of online searchable databases that anyone can use. 713-597-3388. A man has been arrested in Louisiana suspected of multiple drug and weapon charges after a search of his vehicle revealed cocaine, meth, marijuana, and a stolen firearm. A former Pizzeria owner was arrested yesterday for committing after securing Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan funds worth $660,000. Financial lenders or fintechs made around 29% of all PPP loans but accounted for more than half of its suspicious loans to borrowers. She's 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 . Many people have taken out these loans despite not actually qualifying for them. Many Louisiana entities obtained PPP loans and SBA funding--some of them fraudulently, by making false claims regarding PPP loan qualification or necessity. They were approved on 04-08-2020 by the SBA for an amount of 460100 USD. . These individuals were allegedly part of a larger group that together have fraudulently obtained approximately $3.0 million in PPP loans. 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. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 817-859-8549. 1-12. On April 7, 2020, Kamgaing reportedly filed an application for a PPP loan for Apiagne, Inc., a technology company with a lab located at 215 Balfour Dr. in Archdale. The owner of this website may receive compensation for those links, ads, promotions, and other types of links. Largest Database of Louisiana Mugshots. 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 . The PPP offers billions of dollars in potentially forgivable loans to keep workers on the payroll, guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA). GoFundMe has been a go to for many this year. 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). (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); All suspects are innocent until proven guilty. 73 Arrests. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. She forged a bank statement, false tax documents, and made misrepresentations in her PPP applications. Assistant United States Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit, and Assistant United States Attorney Edward Rivera, COVID-19 Fraud Coordinator, are prosecuting this case. Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349, Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341, Follow this link for more information on the Department of Justices response to the pandemic, Louisiana Man Dies in Single-Vessel Boating Incident in Lake Pontchartrain, LDWF Investigating Cause, 38-Year-Old Louisiana Man Arrested Suspected of Possession of Drugs, Stolen Firearm, and Other Crimes, Louisiana Man Arrested Suspected of Swerving and Causing a Crash that Seriously Injured Another Person, Content, DMCA Claims and other Copyright Requests. All Data Obtained From the SBA. If convicted, she faces up to 30 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $1,000,000.00. 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. Browse by Sex/Age. EVERY received these funds into her Current account, her Cash App account, or into her boyfriends Current account. 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. Investigators say those accused made false statements about things like how many people they employ, their average monthly revenue, and payroll figures. In Denton, 97% of the . PPP Loan Search; LA; State Loan Count; 1028 N Parkerson Ave: 1: 10387 CAROLINA ST: 1: 105 Gary Rd: 1: 1131 North Robertson: 1: 115 James Riviere st. 1: . The largest loan paid out was $20,833. (BRPROUD) The United States Department of Justice has indicted a 23-year-old woman for mail fraud and wire fraud on Friday, July 22. Former Louisiana Resident Indicted for Preparing Over 110 Fraudulent PPP Loan Applications Totaling Over $1.1 Million Dollars. If the borrower can prove they used the money to pay employees and eligible expenses, they can ask the SBA for loan forgiveness. The Onder Law Firm has represented clients throughout the United States in pharmaceutical and medical device litigation such as Pradaxa, Lexapro and Yasmin/Yaz, where the firm's attorneys held significant leadership roles in the litigation, as well as Actos, Truvada, Risperdal and others. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents are investigating a fatal single-vessel boating incident that occurred in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, on January 8, 2023, in Lake Pontchartrain after a body was recovered. 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. 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. If convicted,EVERYfaces a maximum penalty of twenty (20) years, followed by a term of supervised release for up to three (3) years, a fine 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 mandatory special assessment fee, per count. . Secret Service said there are currently 900 active criminal investigations into pandemic fraud. EVERYreceived these funds into her Current account, her Cash App account, or into her boyfriends Current account. In her caption she says I got 20k ppp loan now the feds after me plz help I cant do jail!! (Credit: iStock / Getty Images Plus). 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. An area business owner finding herself listed as having a PPP loan, even though she hasn't received the money . Lenders approved that amount for eight people, seven of whom got checks. Federal laws such as the Fair Claims Act and similar state laws provide important protections for persons in Louisiana initiating a PPP loan fraud case. Louisiana has a total of 217,333 businesses that received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans from the Small Business Administration. (WAFB) - Since the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) launched to help businesses pay their employees to prevent great losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some people have of course tried to exploit the program and defraud the federal government of money. For a free, confidential and no-obligation consultation please fill out our short online contact form and one of our whistleblower attorneys for PPP loan fraud claims from Louisiana will contact you to answer any of your questions in a confidential consultation. Copyright 2020 WAFB. In less than six months, more than 50 people have been charged with allegedly committing fraud in connection with the program. A PPP loan fraud case in Louisiana may involve the vast waste of federal funds for personal gain. For example, if the fraud committed amounted to $2.5 million, the government may recover $7.5 million in damages and the whistleblower may personally recover over $2 million. Disclaimer: The choice of an attorney is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. Both received a PPP loan for $20,832. The PPP loan application filed by J Films HD included an IRS form that stated that the company had paid its employees more than $8.3 million in 2019, according to the indictment. OnderLaw, LLC - PPP Loan Fraud Whistleblower What the speakership fight is really all about. Making false statements on your PPP application 2. They were approved on 04/30/2020 by the SBA for an amount of 454079 USD. The FBI and United States Department of Labor are investigating the matter and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Edward Warner. Whistleblower protections are in place to ensure Louisiana residents who are privy to PPP loan fraud and abuse can file a report without fear of retribution. The amounts varied from less than $2,000 to more than $20,000. In order for our firm to be considered your attorney there must be a signed agreement between the client and the firm. The U.S. Department of Justice say that approximately $11.1 million in PPP loans were taken and the funds were then used to buy luxury vehicles, jewelry, and other personal items. A Louisiana man has been arrested suspected of Aggravated Second Degree Battery in connection with a motor vehicle crash that left a driver with serious injuries. Maybe, maybe not all.. 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. Joliet Police Department Detective James Kilgore said that police didn't find business licenses matching the addresses used on the PPP loans. 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. 89 Arrests. Three women, who were employees of U.S. Between 1999 and 2008, when compared to 10 similar states, Louisiana ranked second for the highest number of crimes per 1,000 people. For example, in the city of Gonzales, there were 70 people claiming to own a barbershop who applied for loans. 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. Speak with Dr. Oberheiden today for a free consultation at 888-680-1745. 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. Applying for multiple PPP loans across multiple lenders, also called "loan stacking" 3. U.S. Imports and Bills of Lading for Bancroft Bag, Inc. All Other Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing, Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists, JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Support Activities for Oil and Gas Operations, Construction and Mining (except Oil Well) Machinery and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers, Transportation Equipment and Supplies (except Motor Vehicle) Merchant Wholesalers, Oil and Gas Field Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing, Prefabricated Metal Building and Component Manufacturing, Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services, Third Party Administration of Insurance and Pension Funds, Other Chemical and Fertilizer Mineral Mining, Coastal and Great Lakes Freight Transportation, Hardwood Veneer and Plywood Manufacturing, Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists), All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, Petroleum and Petroleum Products Merchant Wholesalers (except Bulk Stations and Terminals), Alumina Refining and Primary Aluminum Production, Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables, Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals, Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities), Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly, Other Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing, Postlethwaite & Netterville (A Professional Accounting Corporation), Oil and Gas Pipeline and Related Structures Construction, All Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers (except Tobacco Stores), Petroleum Lubricating Oil and Grease Manufacturing, Southwest Louisiana Electric Membership Corporation, Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction, Waldemar S. Nelson And Company, Incorporated, Lessors of Residential Buildings and Dwellings, Advanced Corrosion Technologies & Training, LLC, Industrial Machinery and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers, Commercial and Institutional Building Construction, Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors, Anesthesiology Group Associates, Inc., A Professional Medical Corporation, Arkansas Elder Outreach Of Little Rock, Inc, Other Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing, Paper Bag and Coated and Treated Paper Manufacturing, Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals, General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload, Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction, Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services, Catholic Charities Archdiocese Of New Orleans, Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools, Commercial Air, Rail, and Water Transportation Equipment Rental and Leasing, Freestanding Ambulatory Surgical and Emergency Centers, Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians), Offices of All Other Miscellaneous Health Practitioners, Crescent City Surgical Centre Operating Co, LLC, Research and Development in Nanotechnology, Structural Steel and Precast Concrete Contractors. protecting transportation workers and passengers from covid: gaps in safety, lessons learned, and next steps 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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