Under the PPP program, the loans don't have to be repaid as long as the money is used for paying employees . Follow this link for more information on the Department of Justices response to the pandemic. The tool below can be used to search all publicly released PPP recipients in LA. They were approved on 04-08-2020 by the SBA for an amount of 460100 USD. 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. He'll be sentenced next month and faces 40. 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. Burton was. EVERYcreated all of the false and fraudulent invoices, bank statements, and Schedule Cs. 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 The Act originally authorized up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and Congress later authorized $321 billion in additional PPP funding. 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. We will represent all Louisiana persons involved in a PPP loan fraud claim on a contingency basis, meaning our lawyers never charge legal fees unless we win compensation in your case. 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. 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). 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. 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. 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. Advocates For Science And Mathematics Education, Inc. All Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation, Carbon and Graphite Product Manufacturing, Rubber and Plastics Hoses and Belting Manufacturing. 00:00. . 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. 89 Arrests. EVERY advertised under various aliases on Facebook to recruit individuals to obtain money from the PPP program. Copyright 2020 WAFB. You know, is it something that they should have done? 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. Dr. Nick Oberheiden is a nationally recognized expert on PPP loan laws. 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. Fintech lenders had the highest rate of suspicious PPP loans. Individuals in Louisiana who initiate PPP loan fraud claims are rewarded handsomely for helping to bring corporate fraud in check. If convicted, she faces up to 30 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $1,000,000.00. Gray also submitted claims for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) benefits in the names of false businesses and based on false business profits and losses. BATON ROUGE, La. 1-12. Florida man buys $4.9M mansion using funds from PPP loan scheme, Attorney's Office says She was arrested and charged with child neglect with great bodily harm, tampering with a witness and . Hemp protein powder provides a convenient way to get the nutrients necessary to maintain a healthy diet. Constantly updated. The Veterans Administration, Office of the Inspector General, is an active member of the PRAC Fraud Task Force. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Moderna says RSV vaccine is effective in older adults, Louisiana state income tax filing begins Monday;, Tool can help customers get canceled flight refunds, Authorities seize crypto website Bitzlato, arrest, Livingston Parish Clerk of Court computers hit in, Brion Whitley named SWAC Mens Basketball Player, LSU ranked No. Name Jobs Reported Current Loan Loan Forgiveness; Amount ($) Date Approved Amount ($) Date; SHELTON RESTAURANT GROUP LLC: 500: 4,746,176: April 9, 2020: 4,802,480 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). Mon, Dec 26, 2022 . Making false statements on your PPP application 2. Three women, who were employees of U.S. OnderLaw, LLC - PPP Loan Fraud Whistleblower Every one of the phony and fraudulent invoices, bank statements, and Schedule Cs was fabricated by them. 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. Researchers estimate that $76 billion in PPP loan money was taken illicitly. Gray submitted a false PPP application for the business under the name Royaldiamondzkollection LLC seeking funds from PPP. EVERY falsely certified that the applications and the information provided in the supporting documents were true and accurate when she electronically submitted the fraudulent PPP loan applications. And these cases are just the beginning. Louisiana has a total of 217,333 businesses that received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans from the Small Business Administration. This directory is composed. Contact us today for a confidential, no-cost consultation. In mid July, Lawson proposed adding applications for the PPP to the scheme, with a $6,000 fee for the $20,000 loan. Yesterday she commented Keep the donations coming yall my kids need me out here frfr. My feeling is that despite the fraud, the program helped far, far, far more of my people than it hurt, said Kennedy. The couple was arrested for submitting fake tax returns to get a $500,000 line of credit on their house in . This table shows the top 5 industries in Louisiana by number of loans awarded, with average loan amounts and number of jobs reported. According to the SBA, lenders are responsible for vetting applications and making sure the applicant is telling the truth in whatever way they see fit. In Louisiana, a federal grand jury recently indicted a Plaquemine woman named Lestreonia Rodrigue on fraud charges. 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. 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. Complaints can also be filed online here. The line is staffed 24/7. To date, authorities have recovered approximately $1,195,784.98 of the stolen money., They also elaborated on how the loan works. To me, its like looting after a hurricane. Published 11:13 am Saturday, September 10, 2022. However, both Kennedy and Ricks say the good the program did far outweigh any possible fraud. 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. Nearly 11.5 million people filed applications, resulting in more than $792 billion worth of loans. All rights reserved. During this method, Gray gained hundreds of thousands of dollars in prepaid debit cards in the mail, according to the indictment. Every advertised on Facebook using numerous aliases in order to recruit others to participate in the PPP scheme. She's accused of making up fake businesses to collect more than $20,000 through. Follow this link to report a typo or other issue. With more time, we might have been able to implement some preemptive fraud measures, but we knew there would be some fraud, said Kennedy. 73 Arrests. The risk of facing an audit or investigation is significant for companies that received federal loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The owner of this website may receive compensation for those links, ads, promotions, and other types of links. 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 athttps://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. She had one generous person give her $1000. Who in Louisiana got Paycheck Protection Program loans during the pandemic? 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. Monroe, LA: Monroe, LA. Los Angeles Man Arrested for $27 Million PPP Fraud Scheme A California man was arrested today in Los Angeles on criminal charges related to his alleged bank fraud, false statements in a loan application and money laundering arising from the submission of fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds. "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. 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. The DOJ says this ill-gotten money was in many cases used to buy luxury personal items like cars, homes, vacation trips, and jewelry. 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. However, a check of public records for business licenses with the Secretary of State office revealed no active business licenses for those eight individuals. 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. Fort Miro Foods, Llc. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spend the proceeds on these expenses within a set time period and use at least a certain percentage of the loan towards payroll expenses., At time of Lakeisha has managed to raise $3500 back. 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. 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 Sen. John Kennedy says in the rush to get help to people in need as quickly as possible, Congress didnt have time to build many safeguards against fraud into the program. The pandemic has forced the government to create different programs to help benefit those impacted most. 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. Stay up to date with the latest news by downloading the BRProud App from the App Store or Google Play. One was on behalf of a company called Texas Barbecue and the other called Houston Landscaping. Many people have lost their jobs indefinitely are are struggling to find new sources of income. These funds were deposited into her Current account, her Cash App account, or her boyfriends Current account. Amount; Monroe, LA. 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 [] The PPP was developed to ease the pain of COVID-19 economic restraints on working Americans. 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. 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. However, during that time period, the rate of crime dropped by 27% - - violent crime decreased by 11% during that time. The individuals Every recruitedto prepare and submit the false PPP application was charged between $45.00 and $120.00. Another woman is currently seeking help on GoFundMe for the same reason. Investigations into Burton's bank account show only $616.52 of her loan was used on hair supplies. 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. (PPP) loan funds worth $660,000. Sat. 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. Every case is different and must be judged on its own merits. To access PPP loans, applicants in Louisiana must certify they meet loan qualifications and that "current economic uncertainty makes this loan request necessary to support the ongoing operations of the applicant". The Small Business Administration has released a list of businesses that have received emergency pandemic loans.. 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 . The $20,000 is now due back to the government, with some possible jail time as well if shes not lucky. 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 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. 10 Red Flags for PPP Loan Fraud (Look for These During Your Company's Internal PPP Compliance Investigation) . 100 people have been arrested so far. FLORENCE, S.C. . 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. (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. . The Government alleged that Mr. Santemore, an Amtrak employee, submitted fraudulent loan applications seeking over $89,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. Of those, 3,053 . A total of 8,617 loans were distributed to New Orleans, LA leading to a reported 101,109 jobs being retained. Use the Contact link on this website for any inquiries. Copyright 2021 WAFB. 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. One of the actresses from Tyler Perry's "Madea Goes to Jail" has been charged with fraud by the U.S. Department of Justice. The largest loan paid out was $20,833. The Onder Law Firm is a St. Louis personal injury law firm handling serious injury and death claims across the country. That's almost 10% of the program's nearly $800 billion budget. What the speakership fight is really all about. Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. 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 . 817-859-8549. It provided more than $2 trillion in economic relief to help Americans cope with the economic impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic. 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. All totaled, in that city of 43,000 people lenders approved $1.3 million dollars just for barbershop owners. Gray had peoples identifying information through social media and used that to file numerous claims. 23 april 13, 2020: $350k-$1m iberiabank: $150k-$350k loan to louisiana horsemen's benevolent and protective association, 1993 inc 1. 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. To apply for the forgivable loan, an applicant simply had to submit an application to their bank along with evidence of payroll for the last year which generally included tax returns, payroll returns, and corporate documents. Postal Service, face charges in South Carolina for a multi-million-dollar national fraud scheme related to the federal COVID-19 Paycheck . 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. 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. A former Pizzeria owner was arrested yesterday for committing after securing Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan funds worth $660,000. EVERYprepared and submitted false and fraudulent PPP sole proprietor loan applications via various online portals including, but not limited, to Blueacorn. You have to understand from the lenders perspective, really, theyre just looking at income. All rights reserved. The Paycheck Protection Program saved millions of jobs. This website is owned and operated by BKHagar, LLC. School Food And Nutrition Services Of New Orleans, Inc. Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities. 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. In Louisiana, a federal grand jury recently indicted a Plaquemine woman named Lestreonia Rodrigue on fraud charges. EVERYreceived these funds into her Current account, her Cash App account, or into her boyfriends Current account. The line is staffed 24/7. If convicted, EVERY faces 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. The Veterans Administrations Office of Inspector General participates in the PRAC Fraud Task Force. The lender got to keep a fee based on the size of the loan. 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 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. BATON ROUGE, La. Some pages on this website may contain affiliate links, ads, promotions, or other types of links to other websites, businesses, or products. 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. AGs Office announces more than 50 arrests connected to Paycheck Protection Program fraud, New proposed Psychiatric Facility could house 'dangerous' mentally ill patients in North Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge General offering free health checks. 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. Its pretty bad, some have been able to scam millions out of the government. The DOJ says this ill-gotten money was in many cases used to buy luxury personal items like cars, homes, vacation trips, and jewelry. 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. Joliet Police Department Detective James Kilgore said that police didn't find business licenses matching the addresses used on the PPP loans. Baton Rouge . 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. The accident, injury, personal injury, and/or other legal information offered herein by The Onder Law firm, is not formal legal advice, nor is it the formation of an attorney client relationship. They were approved on 04/30/2020 by the SBA for an amount of 454079 USD. 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. Jan 18, 2023 | Louisiana State News, News. Whistleblowers in Louisiana may receive up to 30% of this sum in compensation, along with numerous other protections. According to todays indictment,EVERYcreated 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.

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