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A Madison business owner and activist was sentenced to 28 months in federal prison Friday for defrauding the federal government of more than $400,000 in COVID-19 relief.
Eric Upchurch, 36, was found guilty by a jury in June of five counts of fraud, six counts of making false statements and one count of money laundering — all related to funds his various businesses received as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.
The CARES Act authorized forgivable loans to business owners affected by the pandemic through the Paycheck Protection Program. Upchurch’s businesses generally offered life coaching and business development assistance for racial minorities.
Under federal law, Upchurch faced decades in prison for the crimes, but sentencing guidelines called for between 37 and 46 months. U.S. District Judge William Conley pointed to Upchurch’s lack of any significant criminal record and his work trying to better the community as reasons for landing on a sentence shorter than the guidelines.
Under federal law, Upchurch faced decades in prison for the crimes, but sentencing guidelines called for between 37 and 46 months. U.S. District Judge William Conley pointed to Upchurch’s lack of any significant criminal record and his work trying to better the community as reasons for landing on a sentence shorter than the guidelines.
At the same time, he noted Upchurch had not taken full responsibility for his crimes and “told an incredible story” at trial.
“He should have known he crossed the line into fraud,” he said, and it’s “painful that it’s a young, talented, Black man before me.”
Upchurch said he was driven to apply for the aid out of a fear of failing in his business ventures and because he convinced himself that what he was doing could be legitimized.
“I knew just enough to be actually dangerous to people and myself,” he said.
He was also ordered to pay $406,211 in restitution and sentenced to three years of supervision once released from prison. --->READ MORE HERE
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, Timothy M. O’Shea announced that a central Wisconsin man was sentenced to a year and one day in federal prison for wire fraud stemming from a relief program during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 40-year-old man, identified as Curtis Alleyne of Almond, pled guilty to the charge on May 9 this year. The charge stems from his Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) application submitted in April 2020. He claimed the business had earned a gross revenue of over half a million dollars.
Alleyne attached forged tax documents to ‘prove’ the information on his application, but IRS tax forms revealed he never filed those records. The Small Business Administration approved his application, depositing nearly $150,000 into his account.
An investigation revealed that he spent the illegally obtained funds on a car and other unapproved expenses. --->READ MORE HEREFollow links below to relevant/related stories and resources:
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