In the last week, three women who were alleged to have applied for and received almost $800,000 in Paycheck Protection Program loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the CARES Act have pleaded guilty in federal court, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Leader of the scheme Aleta Necole Thomas, 43, pleaded guilty to two counts of making false statements to a financial institution. Katrina West, 38, and Pepper Jones, 42, pleaded guilty to false statement. In total, the defendants will have to pay restitution in the amount of $795, 158.50. The government previously seized $209, 991.11 from bank accounts held by Thomas pursuant to federal seizure warrants, which will go toward restitution.
“For more than a year, Aleta Thomas applied for and secured Paycheck Protection Program loans under false pretenses,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “The nearly $800,000 of taxpayer money Thomas and her accomplices stole should have gone to legitimate small business owners serving and economically enhancing their communities. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our federal law enforcement partners will investigate and prosecute anyone who misdirects federal emergency assistance in order to illegally enrich themselves.”
“The actions of the defendants sought personal gain at the expense of taxpayers and eligible small businesses,” said Inspector General Hannibal “Mike” Ware. “OIG will aggressively pursue fraud in the PPP and other SBA programs aimed at...
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