Lenders approved that amount for eight people, seven of whom got checks. 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. 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 either gave a portion of the funds to others or kept it for herself. PPP-Loan.info States / Location . (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. Age. Whistleblowers in Louisiana may receive up to 30% of this sum in compensation, along with numerous other protections. 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. 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 [] He received $2.1 million in PPP money. Louisiana whistleblowers in successful PPP loan fraud cases are compensated for their efforts and have the satisfaction of exposing fraud and abuse. Louisiana has a total of 217,333 businesses that received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans from the Small Business Administration. To me, its like looting after a hurricane. 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. The office identified matched CHA program participants to those who received PPP loans and found 6,280 people (either heads of households or family members) had received them. Copyright 2020 WAFB. 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. In her caption she says I got 20k ppp loan now the feds after me plz help I cant do jail!! For one woman this could potential result in jail time. During round 1 of the paycheck protection program, STAGE 2 SECURITY LLC requested a PPP loan for 460100 USD. 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"). What the speakership fight is really all about. Applying for multiple PPP loans across multiple lenders, also called "loan stacking" 3. 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. EVERY advertised under various aliases on Facebook to recruit individuals to obtain money from the PPP program. This table shows the top 5 industries in Louisiana by number of loans awarded, with average loan amounts and number of jobs reported. Whether or not you share your childs fascination for reptiles, here are the best toys, books and games to excite any reptile lover. 104 Arrests. All rights reserved. Federal investigators cannot comment on active investigations or give an estimate on how much fraud may have occurred through federal pandemic relief programs, but a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Middle District of Louisiana confirms there were fraudulent applications submitted in Louisiana through several relief programs including the PPP. The $20,000 is now due back to the government, with some possible jail time as well if shes not lucky. Sun. Bank fraud The Government alleged that Mr. Santemore, an Amtrak employee, submitted fraudulent loan applications seeking over $89,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. Jan 18, 2023 | Louisiana State News, News, Traffic. The pandemic has forced the government to create different programs to help benefit those impacted most. . 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 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. In Louisiana, a federal grand jury recently indicted a Plaquemine woman named Lestreonia Rodrigue on fraud charges. 440 Louisiana St #200, Houston, TX 77002 . 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. 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 forgivable loans were meant to cover payroll for employees and, later, other eligible expenses at a time when customers werent coming in. PPP Loan Fraud Information for Your City: PPP Loan Fraud Information for Your State: Who Can File a PPP Loan Fraud Case in Louisiana. "Such payments are not authorized use of PPP funds under the CARES Act," the statement said. 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. However, a check of public records for business licenses with the Secretary of State office revealed no active business licenses for those eight individuals. Gray submitted a false PPP application for the business under the name Royaldiamondzkollection LLC seeking funds from PPP. This case was brought in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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. Complaints can also be filed online here. To get the initial payments, Every primarilyusedCash App. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, there have been dozens of people charged with fraud nationwide and there are five pending Federal civil procedures where agencies are looking to get back $2.3 million worth of fraudulent assets including two high-end cars, a house, and cash. Two people were approved for that amount twice, and one of those people got paid twice. Use the Contact link on this website for any inquiries. Gray had peoples identifying information through social media and used that to file numerous claims. 89 Arrests. 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. 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 Code, Section 1341. 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. Both received a PPP loan for $20,832. Louisiana crime statistics. 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. 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. 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. 1-12. I dont know why it is that that some people take advantage of a program like this in a time of crisis. In Louisiana, a federal grand jury recently indicted a Plaquemine woman named Lestreonia Rodrigue on fraud charges. Using awarded PPP funds for unapproved purposes PPP Fraud Criminal Charges There are 4 common criminal charges for someone accused of PPP loan fraud. BATON ROUGE, La. 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. Investigators say those accused made false statements about things like how many people they employ, their average monthly revenue, and payroll figures. 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. Arlington . Fri. 1-13. Researchers estimate that $76 billion in PPP loan money was taken illicitly. (Credit: iStock / Getty Images Plus). Follow this link for more information on the Department of Justices response to the pandemic. The amounts varied from less than $2,000 to more than $20,000. Who in Louisiana got Paycheck Protection Program loans during the pandemic? (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. 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. PPP-Loan.info. 650 Poydras Street, Suite 1600 - New Orleans, LA 70130, Download 2_ecf_doc_1_-_sharnae_every_indictment_redacted_sanitized.pdf. Mon, Dec 26, 2022 . 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. Individuals in Louisiana who initiate PPP loan fraud claims are rewarded handsomely for helping to bring corporate fraud in check. "The PPP was developed to ease the pain of COVID-19 economic restraints on working Americans. Some pages on this website may contain affiliate links, ads, promotions, or other types of links to other websites, businesses, or products. The program worked like this. One of the actresses from Tyler Perry's "Madea Goes to Jail" has been charged with fraud by the U.S. Department of Justice. Follow this link to report a typo or other issue. Wire fraud 2. All rights reserved. Robert De Niro-backed Nobu restaurants took more than a dozen PPP loans worth as much as $28 million . 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, Section 1341. Many Louisiana entities obtained PPP loans and SBA funding--some of them fraudulently, by making false claims regarding PPP loan qualification or necessity. 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. EVERY prepared and submitted false and fraudulent PPP sole proprietor loan applications via various online portals including, but not limited, to Blueacorn. From fabricating false companies to inaccurately representing the number of workers employed, PPP fraud in Louisiana is a serious abuse of federal relief funds that has contributed to . 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. 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 . A PPP loan fraud case in Louisiana may involve the vast waste of federal funds for personal gain. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Louisiana state income tax filing begins Monday, Jan. 23, Detectives seek assistance after gunfire damages vehicles in Boutte, UPDATED: I-55, NB and SB, from I-10 Interchange to I-55 Frontage Road near Ponchatoula (Exit 22) St. John and Tangipahoa Parishes Roadwork (tree, Westwego Woman Charged with Theft of Government Funds, Federal Grand Jury Indicts Thibodaux Man for Drug Trafficking Offense. Search Paycheck Protection Program Loan (PPP Loan) list with amount, business name, address, business type and Lender information in Louisiana. Search. Lanier & Associates Consulting Engineers, Inc. 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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. According to the indictment, Every established a fictional company called Natural Hair Afro, LLC, Houma, LA 70360 and used this fictitious company name on nearly all of the fraudulent PPP loan applications. Heatmap of PPP Loans by Zip Code in Louisiana, Number of Loans Issued by Date in Louisiana, Summary of PPP Loans by County in Louisiana, Top 25 Cities in Louisiana by Number of PPP Loans. According to todays indictment, EVERY created 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. Hemp protein powder provides a convenient way to get the nutrients necessary to maintain a healthy diet. 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