A Dumfries resident has admitted to wire fraud related to a COVID-19 relief program. Kingsley Apenteng, 40, pleaded guilty in Alexandria, Virginia, for fraudulently obtaining funds through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Court documents reveal that Apenteng was the registered owner of Pioneers Real Estate LLC from at least 2017 to 2021. The company had no employees and conducted no business during this period.
In March 2021, Apenteng applied for a $149,740 loan under the PPP. He falsely claimed that Pioneers employed nine individuals with an average monthly payroll of $59,896 throughout 2019 and early 2020. He certified that the loan would cover employee wages.
To support his application, Apenteng prepared fraudulent tax forms and altered bank statements. He submitted these documents electronically to a lender and the Small Business Administration (SBA) on March 10, 2021. Consequently, his loan was approved on April 28, resulting in him receiving the full amount requested.
Later in November 2021, Apenteng sought loan forgiveness from the SBA by falsely asserting he used all funds for employee wages. His application was approved on November 9 without any repayment made by him.
Apenteng's sentencing is set for May 6. He faces up to two decades in prison; however, actual sentences are generally less severe than maximum penalties as determined by federal guidelines and other factors considered by a district court judge.
The announcement came from Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, alongside Sean Ryan from the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division after Judge Leonie M. Brinkema accepted Apenteng's plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Harvey is leading the prosecution effort.
For further details about this case or related court documents can be found on either the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Eastern District of Virginia or through PACER using Case No. 1:25-cr-21.