louisiana ppp loan arrests

During this method, Gray gained hundreds of thousands of dollars in prepaid debit cards in the mail, according to the indictment. Speak with Dr. Oberheiden today for a free consultation at 888-680-1745. 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. Secret Service said there are currently 900 active criminal investigations into pandemic fraud. All Data Obtained From the SBA. 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. 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. EVERYprimarily used Cash App to receive the initial payments. So now, he says agencies must go after anyone who might be taking money theyre not entitled to. 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. These individuals were allegedly part of a larger group that together have fraudulently obtained approximately $3.0 million in PPP loans. 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. With more time, we might have been able to implement some preemptive fraud measures, but we knew there would be some fraud, said Kennedy. Staveley and Butziger claimed to have. In order for our firm to be considered your attorney there must be a signed agreement between the client and the firm. This table shows the top 5 industries in Louisiana by number of loans awarded, with average loan amounts and number of jobs reported. 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. If convicted, Every risks a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, a fine of 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 obligatory special assessment charge, per count. The Veterans Administrations Office of Inspector General participates in the PRAC Fraud Task Force. The Department of Justice confirms they are looking into reports of PPP fraud across the nation. 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. The PPP was developed to ease the pain of COVID-19 economic restraints on working Americans. And these cases are just the beginning. 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. 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). A judges gavel is shown in a file photo. 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. 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. ThePaycheck Protection Programprovides small businesses with funds to pay up to 8 weeks ofpayrollcosts including benefits. Copyright 2022 PPP Directory. 103 Arrests. Both the U.S. Attorneys Office and the Louisiana Attorney General have encouraged the community to report suspected fraud. An area business owner finding herself listed as having a PPP loan, even though she hasn't received the money . In mid July, Lawson proposed adding applications for the PPP to the scheme, with a $6,000 fee for the $20,000 loan. 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. 650 Poydras Street, Suite 1600 - New Orleans, LA 70130, Download 2_ecf_doc_1_-_sharnae_every_indictment_redacted_sanitized.pdf. The Paycheck Protection Program saved millions of jobs. However, industry insiders say the barbershop industry is largely cash-based, making it easy to operate under the radar. Use the Contact link on this website for any inquiries. The National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) is in Baton Rouge and reports can be filed here. 89 Arrests. All rights reserved. The Cryptocurrency Investor (Texas - July 14) Joshua Thomas Argires of Houston was arrested on various fraud charges. 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. For more information on the Department of Justices response to the pandemic, please visithttps://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Each loan paid out was guaranteed using taxpayer money. The loan was facilitated by Capital One, National Association, MCLEAN, VA.Of the approved amount, CONTROL UNION USA INC has . Follow this link to report a typo or other issue. Applying for multiple PPP loans across multiple lenders, also called "loan stacking" 3. She either gave a portion of the funds to others or kept it for herself. Volunteers Of America Southeast Louisiana, Inc. Lessors of Nonresidential Buildings (except Miniwarehouses). Search Paycheck Protection Program Loan (PPP Loan) list with amount, business name, address, business type and Lender information in Louisiana. 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 discovered at least 110 PPP sole proprietor loan applications in and around Thibodeaux, Louisiana, with the same invoices and federal tax forms (Schedule C), business name, and sums. In April, Congress authorized more than $300 billion in additional PPP funding. Copyright 2020 WAFB. Monroe, LA: Monroe, LA. 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. However, both Kennedy and Ricks say the good the program did far outweigh any possible fraud. 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. . Peralta-Gutierrez was arrested last month, and a federal grand jury returned his indictment for wire fraud conspiracy Monday. Maybe, maybe not all.. Together, more than 5.5 million PPP loans were approved totaling more than $557.8 billion. They were approved on 04/30/2020 by the SBA for an amount of 454079 USD. 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 . Under the PPP program, the loans don't have to be repaid as long as the money is used for paying employees . 104 Arrests. EVERYthen charged approximately $3,500.00 once the loans were funded. If you are privy to information proving an individual or company obtained Paycheck Protection Program funds illegally in Louisiana, filing a Louisiana PPP loan fraud case is the most effective means to pursue justice while receiving protections for yourself and your family. 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. 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. The forgivable loans were meant to cover payroll for employees and, later, other eligible expenses at a time when customers werent coming in. Search arrest records and find latests mugshots and bookings for Misdemeanors and Felonies. Postal Service, face charges in South Carolina for a multi-million-dollar national fraud scheme related to the federal COVID-19 Paycheck . The Small Business Administration has released a list of businesses that have received emergency pandemic loans.. Many people have taken out these loans despite not actually qualifying for them. DENHAM SPRINGS - Some strange money games are happening in Livingston Parish. Its mission is the pursuit of justice, no matter how complex the case or strenuous the effort. 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. 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. 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. The Justice Department has charged 57 people, including "coordinated criminal rings," who tried to steal more than $157 million from the Paycheck Protection Program. 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. . (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. EVERYreceived these funds into her Current account, her Cash App account, or into her boyfriends Current account. Complaints can also be filed online here. Thu. (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. . In Louisiana, a federal grand jury recently indicted a Plaquemine woman named Lestreonia Rodrigue on fraud charges. 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. The $20,000 is now due back to the government, with some possible jail time as well if shes not lucky. If convicted, she faces up to 30 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $1,000,000.00. All rights reserved. The Onder Law Firm is a St. Louis personal injury law firm handling serious injury and death claims across the country. Complaints can also be filed online here. Contact us today for a confidential, no-cost consultation. However, not everyone taking part in the federal program was looking to keep their business doors open. "The PPP was developed to ease the pain of COVID-19 economic restraints on working Americans. BATON ROUGE, La. 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. She's accused of making up fake businesses to collect more than $20,000 through. (Credit: iStock / Getty Images Plus). Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The program worked like this. Many people have lost their jobs indefinitely are are struggling to find new sources of income. 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. 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. Sex. PPP-Loan.info. EVERYadvertised under various aliases on Facebook to recruit individuals to obtain money from the PPP program. Barbershops were one of the most common businesses to apply. Lenders approved that amount for eight people, seven of whom got checks. 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 . 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. 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. 1. Former Louisiana Resident Indicted for Preparing Over 110 Fraudulent PPP Loan Applications Totaling Over $1.1 Million Dollars. Louisiana crime statistics. 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. 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. Who in Louisiana got Paycheck Protection Program loans during the pandemic? Full-Service Restaurants . Nearly 11.5 million people filed applications, resulting in more than $792 billion worth of loans. Copyright 2020 WAFB. 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. All rights reserved. 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. 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. The Onder Law Firm won $197 million in three talcum powder ovarian cancer lawsuits in St. Louis in 2016 and other law firms throughout the nation often seek its experience and expertise on complex litigation. The PPP was developed to ease the pain of COVID-19 economic restraints on working Americans. A borrower applied for a PPP loan from a lender or bank. She forged a bank statement, false tax documents, and made misrepresentations in her PPP applications. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. For more information on the Department of Justices response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. 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. This website is owned and operated by BKHagar, LLC. I got 3 kids dat need me!!!. GoFundMe has been a go to for many this year. 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. Some content may be sourced from press releases or public information/records. PPP Loan Fraud Information for Your City: PPP Loan Fraud Information for Your State: Who Can File a PPP Loan Fraud Case in Louisiana. 1-14. Louisiana has a total of 217,333 businesses that received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans from the Small Business Administration. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. All totaled, in that city of 43,000 people lenders approved $1.3 million dollars just for barbershop owners. . The Government alleged that Mr. Santemore, an Amtrak employee, submitted fraudulent loan applications seeking over $89,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. Robert De Niro-backed Nobu restaurants took more than a dozen PPP loans worth as much as $28 million . EVERYcharged $45.00 to $120.00 from the individuals she recruited to prepare and submit the fraudulent PPP application. A total of 73,824 loans were distributed to Louisiana leading to a reported 799,664 jobs being retained. a washington state tech executive was sentenced today in the western district of washington to two years in prison for perpetrating a scheme to fraudulently obtain covid-19 disaster relief loans guaranteed by the small business administration (sba) through the economic injury disaster loan (eidl) and the paycheck protection program (ppp) under If you are privy to inside information on PPP loan fraud in Louisiana, you may be entitled to damages.
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