Henry T. Lewis, a 57-year-old resident of Omaha, Nebraska, has been sentenced for wire fraud in relation to COVID-19 relief programs. The sentencing took place on December 19, 2024, in federal court in Omaha. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher handed down a sentence of five years’ probation and ordered Lewis to pay $210,846.26 in restitution. This amount includes credit for $20,000 that Lewis paid prior to sentencing.
Lewis's fraudulent activities occurred during 2020 and 2021 when he submitted applications for loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. These programs were established or expanded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide financial assistance amid the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The applications falsely represented employee compensation and business revenue figures, leading to inflated loan amounts being requested under both programs. Lewis supported his PPP applications with falsified tax documents he had signed. His fraudulent efforts resulted in obtaining $195,497 from loans sought totaling approximately $348,494.50.
In response to pandemic-related fraud, the Attorney General launched the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force on May 17, 2021. This task force aims to utilize resources from the Department of Justice alongside various government agencies to combat fraud linked to relief programs.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Small Business Administration's Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation into this case.
Anyone with information about attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it through the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via their online complaint form.