 |
| Photo by Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images |
The Brief
- A Texas woman was sentenced to three years and five months in prison for her role in a scheme to file fraudulent PPP loan applications.
- Shantelle Hawkins, 43, of DeSoto, conspired to submit 17 fraudulent applications, falsely claiming payroll and tax information to secure over $1.8 million.
- Hawkins used the illicit funds for personal expenses, including paying off a Maserati and purchasing property, which she must now forfeit in addition to paying restitution.
DeSOTO, Texas - A Texas woman was sentenced on Tuesday to three years and five months in prison for her role in a scheme to file fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program loans during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What we know:
Shantelle Hawkins, 43, of DeSoto, pleaded guilty in October to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
According to court documents, Hawkins conspired to submit 17 fraudulent PPP loan applications between May 2020 and March 2021. The applications, filed on behalf of companies she or her relatives owned, contained false information about payroll and tax details used to calculate loan amounts. --->READ MORE HERE
Four people from the Los Angeles area have been federally charged for their alleged roles in what the FBI calls the "nation's largest known" $93 million COVID-19 tax credit fraud scheme.
On June 11, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against four individuals charging them with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, mail fraud and conspiracy to submit false claims. The FBI said two of the defendants named are also charged with attempting to kill a witness and "using a firearm in furtherance of that crime."
During the pandemic, Congress authorized tax credits to help alleviate the financial impacts of COVID-19 through the Family First Coronavirus Response Act. This allowed small businesses to apply for refunds on business tax returns, claiming the credit. The authorized tax credits would then allow businesses to be reimbursed for the wages that were paid to employees who could not work due to the pandemic.
The defendants named in the indictment:
- Kristerpher Turner, 52, from Harbor City, aliases "Kris Turner," "Red," "Red Boy," and "Bullet"
- Toriano Knox, 55, from Los Angeles, aliases "Scooby" and "Dwight"
- Kenya Jones, 46, from Compton, aliases "Kenya Emua Jones" and "Kenya Hunt"
- Joyce Johnson, 55, from Victorville, alias "Ms. Jay"
According to court documents, Turner was allegedly head of a tax fraud scheme where he and his co-conspirators would submit fraudulent applications to the Coronavirus Response Credits for businesses, including fake companies. --->READ MORE HEREFollow links below to relevant/related stories and resources:
What long covid can teach us about future pandemics
NJ Schools May Resume In-Person Instruction, with Option to go All-Remote
USA TODAY: Coronavirus Updates
WSJ: Coronavirus Live Updates
YAHOO NEWS: Coronavirus Live Updates
NEW YORK POST: Coronavirus The Latest
If you like what you see, please "Like" and/or Follow us on FACEBOOK here, GETTR here, and TWITTER here.
No comments:
Post a Comment