Johnny Narcisse and Johnson Dieujuste have been sentenced to prison for defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, amounting to over $2 million. "These defendants brazenly stole funds from programs designed to help individuals and businesses suffering during the COVID-19 pandemic," stated Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr.
The investigation began in July 2021 when federal agents executed a search warrant at Narcisse's home in Georgia, uncovering evidence of a conspiracy with Dieujuste to recruit small business owners and file fraudulent loan applications on their behalf. Narcisse and Dieujuste fabricated necessary information for these applications, receiving kickbacks from approved loans.
Johnny Narcisse, aged 46 from Atlanta, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Eleanor L. Ross to two years and four months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He must also pay restitution of $2,000,332 after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Johnson Dieujuste, aged 37 from Loganville, received a sentence of two years and eight months in prison with three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution totaling $2,081,559 after his guilty plea for the same charge.
The case revealed that both men had independently filed fraudulent COVID-19 loan applications for themselves as well. The U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and Small Business Administration investigated this case.
Assistant U.S Attorney Alana R. Black alongside Trial Attorneys Jennifer Bilinkas and David A. Peters prosecuted the case under the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
In response to pandemic-related frauds like this one, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force on May 17, 2021. This initiative aims to enhance efforts against such frauds through coordination among government agencies.
Reports about attempted COVID-19 fraud can be made via the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline or their web complaint form.
For more details or inquiries contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office or visit their website.