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. The case against Every began after the COVID-19 Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) referred a possible fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loan (PPP) to the FBI. In February 2021, the New York Court of Appeals issued a long-awaited decision in Freedom Mortgage v.Engel, 37 N.Y.3d 1 (2021), which, among other things, held that the voluntary discontinuance of a foreclosure action constitutes an affirmative revocation of acceleration because such "discontinuance withdraws the complaint and, when the complaint is the only expression of demand for immediate . 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 Justice Department has charged 57 people, including "coordinated criminal rings," who tried to steal more than $157 million from the Paycheck Protection Program. 1-14. In less than six months, more than 50 people have been charged with allegedly committing fraud in connection with the program. 1-15. 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. CONTROL UNION USA INC is a Corporation located at SAINT ROSE, LA with 40 employees. Staveley and Butziger claimed to have. Three women, who were employees of U.S. PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) and Bank Fraud Enforcement Act and the COVID-19 EIDL (Economic Injury Disaster Loan) Fraud Statute of Limitations Act establish 10-year statutes of limitations. 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. For example, in the city of Gonzales, there were 70 people claiming to own a barbershop who applied for loans. With more time, we might have been able to implement some preemptive fraud measures, but we knew there would be some fraud, said Kennedy. protecting transportation workers and passengers from covid: gaps in safety, lessons learned, and next steps BATON ROUGE, La. EVERY primarily used Cash App to receive the initial payments. Search arrest records and find latests mugshots and bookings for Misdemeanors and Felonies. Its mission is the pursuit of justice, no matter how complex the case or strenuous the effort. As a result many are dipping into government funding they dont actually qualify for. 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. Barbershops were one of the most common businesses to apply. A PPP loan fraud case in Louisiana may involve the vast waste of federal funds for personal gain. (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. However, a check of public records for business licenses with the Secretary of State office revealed no active business licenses for those eight individuals. 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. Maybe, maybe not all.. Bank fraud Calcasieu Parish News Calcasieu.info is not associated with any local governments or authorities. Some pages on this website may contain affiliate links, ads, promotions, or other types of links to other websites, businesses, or products. 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. Filing a PPP loan fraud case is a powerful means for Louisiana citizens to bring tax dollar waste and abuse to light. The lender got to keep a fee based on the size of the loan. 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. PPP Loan Fraud Information for Your City: PPP Loan Fraud Information for Your State: Who Can File a PPP Loan Fraud Case in Louisiana. Published 11:13 am Saturday, September 10, 2022. Lakeisha Golden is currently asking for donations on GoFundMe to help pay back a paycheck protection program Loan (Or PPP Loan) that she took out to provide for her family. The Congregation Of The Roman Catholic Church Of . This directory is composed. The individuals Every recruitedto prepare and submit the false PPP application was charged between $45.00 and $120.00. 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. Investigations into Burton's bank account show only $616.52 of her loan was used on hair supplies. 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. The owner of this website may receive compensation for those links, ads, promotions, and other types of links. You have to understand from the lenders perspective, really, theyre just looking at income. She forged a bank statement, false tax documents, and made misrepresentations in her PPP applications. Copyright 2020 WAFB. 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 . 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. So far, six. 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. 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 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 Small Business Administration has released a list of businesses that have received emergency pandemic loans.. Other Locations. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. All totaled, in that city of 43,000 people lenders approved $1.3 million dollars just for barbershop owners. The PPP was developed to ease the pain of COVID-19 economic restraints on working Americans. Sun. 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. Follow this link to report a typo or other issue. BATON ROUGE, La. Arrest Log: Dec. 26 - Jan. 1 Coweta EMA coordinator earns certification Annual MLK celebration and parade Jan. 6-7 . Otherwise, the borrower is on the hook for the money. The $20,000 is now due back to the government, with some possible jail time as well if shes not lucky. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. You can search the SBA's entire PPP loan data below. Sat. 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. Constantly updated. 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. Under the PPP program, the loans don't have to be repaid as long as the money is used for paying employees . Monroe, LA: Monroe, LA. He received $2.1 million in PPP money. 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. In order for our firm to be considered your attorney there must be a signed agreement between the client and the firm. 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 . Contact us today for a confidential, no-cost consultation. The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two. Baton Rouge . I got 3 kids dat need me!!!. 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. Summary of PPP Loans in Louisiana A total of 73,824 loans were distributed to Louisiana leading to a reported 799,664 jobs being retained. 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. 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. 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 funds. 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. The National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) is in Baton Rouge and reports can be filed here. (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 case againstEVERYbegan as a result of a referral from the COVID-19 Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) regarding possible fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loans (PPP). Making false statements on your PPP application 2. The PPP was developed to ease the pain of COVID-19 economic restraints on working Americans. 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. 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. If someone defaults, or cant pay it back, the SBA will still reimburse the lender. In April, Congress authorized more than $300 billion in additional PPP funding. 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. Mon, Dec 26, 2022 . However, both Kennedy and Ricks say the good the program did far outweigh any possible fraud. . The US Attorneys Office would also like to thank the Veterans Administrations Office of the Inspector General; the US Department of Labors Office of the Inspector General; the US Department of Homeland Securitys Homeland Security Investigations; and the US Secret Services Cyber Fraud Task Force, which included the Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office, the Lafourche Parish Sheriffs Office, and the Thibodeaux Police Department. This table shows the top 5 industries in Louisiana by number of loans awarded, with average loan amounts and number of jobs reported. 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. One of the actresses from Tyler Perry's "Madea Goes to Jail" has been charged with fraud by the U.S. Department of Justice. A new study looking at which U.S. locations received the most in loans from the Paycheck Protection Program found that Denton businesses received $1,544 in funds per capita. EVERYcreated all of the false and fraudulent invoices, bank statements, and Schedule Cs. That's almost 10% of the program's nearly $800 billion budget. In less than six months, more than 50 people have been charged with allegedly committing fraud in connection with the program. 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"). If youre going to steal money, finite resources from people who need them, then, by God, were going to prosecute you.. 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. Whether or not you share your childs fascination for reptiles, here are the best toys, books and games to excite any reptile lover. My feeling is that despite the fraud, the program helped far, far, far more of my people than it hurt, said Kennedy. EVERYadvertised under various aliases on Facebook to recruit individuals to obtain money from the PPP program. 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. (WAFB) - The Paycheck Protection Program, known as PPP, provided a lifeline for millions of business owners when the pandemic was at its worst. A San Fernando Valley, California, man has been indicted for committing Payment Protection Program fraud amounting to $1.7 million, the Justice Department announced Wednesday. EVERYcharged $45.00 to $120.00 from the individuals she recruited to prepare and submit the fraudulent PPP application. NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANAUnited States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today the indictment ofSHARNAE 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 Code, Section 1341. "Such payments are not authorized use of PPP funds under the CARES Act," the statement said. Together, more than 5.5 million PPP loans were approved totaling more than $557.8 billion. 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