Of more than the 2,200,000 total crimes committed between . Dr. Nick Oberheiden is a nationally recognized expert on PPP loan laws. U.S. Imports and Bills of Lading for Donovan Marine Inc, U.S. Imports and Bills of Lading for Pellerin Milnor Corporation. Federal investigators want you to speak up about PPP fraud, Federal investigators want you to speak up about PPP Fraud, Garret Graves says hes unsure about run for governor, Teen shot while walking to school (Full News Conference). 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. Between 1999 and 2008, when compared to 10 similar states, Louisiana ranked second for the highest number of crimes per 1,000 people. And I, I think we ought to prosecute every single one of them to the full extent of the law, said Kennedy. Congress passed the CARES Act on March 29, 2020 which created a $349 billion dollar program of forgivable loans called the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The Task Force assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other things, 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. . In Denton, 97% of the . Based on the data, between $706,982,622 and $1,377,632,622 have been loaned through the Payroll Protection Program to businesses in New Orleans, LA. Reality star Maurice Fayne, also known as Arkansas Mo, was arrested Wednesday on federal bank fraud charges after abusing his Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loan. In Louisiana, a federal grand jury . This website is owned and operated by BKHagar, LLC. Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. I urge anyone who believes he or she is a victim of this type of fraud to report it to the National Center for Disaster Fraud," said US Attorney Brandon Fremin. My feeling is that despite the fraud, the program helped far, far, far more of my people than it hurt, said Kennedy. 23 april 13, 2020: $350k-$1m iberiabank: $150k-$350k loan to louisiana horsemen's benevolent and protective association, 1993 inc protecting transportation workers and passengers from covid: gaps in safety, lessons learned, and next steps To me, its like looting after a hurricane. 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. (WAFB) - The Paycheck Protection Program, known as PPP, provided a lifeline for millions of business owners when the pandemic was at its worst. In less than six months, more than 50 people have been charged with allegedly committing fraud in connection with the program. 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. 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 risk of facing an audit or investigation is significant for companies that received federal loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Who in Louisiana got Paycheck Protection Program loans during the pandemic? 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. 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. On March 2, 2021 the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas issued a news release reporting the arrest of Ms. Wiggins on bank fraud, making a false statement to a bank, and money laundering. EVERYthen charged approximately $3,500.00 once the loans were funded. Secret Service said there are currently 900 active criminal investigations into pandemic fraud. 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 program worked like this. The forgivable loans were meant to cover payroll for employees and, later, other eligible expenses at a time when customers werent coming in. Fort Miro Foods, Llc. Published 11:13 am Saturday, September 10, 2022. "Such payments are not authorized use of PPP funds under the CARES Act," the statement said. (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. Rudolph Brooks, Jr., 45, was arrested earlier this month after allegedly faking tax returns and payroll forms to apply for the $1.5 million loan under the federal government's CARES act. 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. 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. School Food And Nutrition Services Of New Orleans, Inc. Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities. At the request of WAFB, the Louisiana Board of Barber Examiners also searched their apprentice, student, barber, and shop records for those eight names and addresses, and came up empty as well. You have to understand from the lenders perspective, really, theyre just looking at income. 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. In addition, whistleblowers in Louisiana are eligible for significant compensation in successful PPP loan fraud cases. Researchers estimate that $76 billion in PPP loan money was taken illicitly. Disclaimer: The choice of an attorney is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. Tax Preparer Charged with Submitting 118 Fraudulent PPP Loan Applications - Also in March 2021, the DOJ filed charges against a South Florida tax preparer who is accused of submitting . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justices National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. Sun. 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. 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. 66 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. Our firm is committed to providing aggressive legal representation to whistleblowers in Louisiana in order to maximize PPP loan fraud case compensation, while ensuring our clients are protected to the utmost extent of the law during the process. Floods are going to become more common, so its vital to learn how to prepare, no matter where you live. For one woman this could potential result in jail time. Arrest Log: Dec. 26 - Jan. 1 Coweta EMA coordinator earns certification Annual MLK celebration and parade Jan. 6-7 . All rights reserved. Copyright 2021 WAFB. "The PPP was developed to ease the pain of COVID-19 economic restraints on working Americans. Applying for multiple PPP loans across multiple lenders, also called "loan stacking" 3. PPP Loan Fraud Information for Your City: PPP Loan Fraud Information for Your State: Who Can File a PPP Loan Fraud Case in Louisiana. In Louisiana, a federal grand jury recently indicted a Plaquemine woman named Lestreonia Rodrigue on fraud charges. Please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus for more information on the Departments response to the pandemic. 89 Arrests. Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force on May 17, 2021, to marshal the Department of Justices resources in collaboration with agencies across government to strengthen efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. EVERYcreated all of the false and fraudulent invoices, bank statements, and Schedule Cs. For more information on the Department of Justices response to the pandemic, please visithttps://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. You can search and filter the list of PPP loans. If you are privy to inside information on PPP loan fraud in Louisiana, you may be entitled to damages. "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. Both the U.S. Attorneys Office and the Louisiana Attorney General have encouraged the community to report suspected fraud. Crowther used it to buy a $700,000 dollar catamaran and a lavish lifestyle. According to the indictment, Tynea Gray of Donaldsonville and Prairieville between June 2020 and Oct. 2021, Gray submitted unemployment claims in California in her name and in the names of others. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. January 17, 2023 - Ginpahayag ni City Administrator Pacifico Maghari III nga nagsumiter ang SM Prime Holdings Inc. sang proposal para Public Private Partnership ukon PPP sa pagpaaayo sang Manokan Country. Its up to the SBA and the Justice Department to go after anyone caught stealing PPP money. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. I got 3 kids dat need me!!!. GoFundMe has been a go to for many this year. 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. The pandemic has forced the government to create different programs to help benefit those impacted most. The Department of Justice confirms they are looking into reports of PPP fraud across the nation. EVERYprimarily used Cash App to receive the initial payments. Speak with Dr. Oberheiden today for a free consultation at 888-680-1745. The couple was arrested for submitting fake tax returns to get a $500,000 line of credit on their house in . Every case is different and must be judged on its own merits. 100 people have been arrested so far. Louisiana crime statistics. I dont know why it is that that some people take advantage of a program like this in a time of crisis. For more information, visit www.OnderLaw.com or call 1-877-ONDER-LAW. And these cases are just the beginning. Gray had peoples identifying information through social media and used that to file numerous claims. She either gave a portion of the funds to others or kept it for herself. To get the initial payments, Every primarilyusedCash App. Complaints can also be filed online here. Amount; Monroe, LA. The loan was facilitated by Capital One, National Association, MCLEAN, VA.Of the approved amount, CONTROL UNION USA INC has . 817-859-8549. Woman Being Watched By The Feds After Receiving $20K PPP Loan, Launches GoFundMe To Pay It Back, Says She Has Three Kids And Cant Go To Jail, social media model trying to get home from All Star Weekend, Two Tennessee Women Jailed After Being Caught Attempting To Use Fake $1 Million Bill At Dollar General, Claim They Did Not Know It Was Fake, Second GoFundMe Account Setup For 2000s Bad Boy Rapper, Black Rob Funeral Expenses, Campaign Ends After Raising $3,500. EVERYcharged $45.00 to $120.00 from the individuals she recruited to prepare and submit the fraudulent PPP application. 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. 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