Anna Marie Omar, a 51-year-old resident of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, has been sentenced to five years of federal probation for money laundering related to a fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. The sentence includes six months of home detention and an order to pay $23,410.60 in restitution.
Omar admitted to obtaining a $20,833 PPP loan under false pretenses. According to court documents, she applied for the loan on April 30, 2021, while residing in Bluefield, West Virginia. She falsely claimed to be an independent contractor with a gross income of $152,000 from a water processing business during the tax year 2020 and stated that she had been in business since 2010. Omar confessed that the funds were used for personal purposes.
The approved loan amount was deposited into her personal checking account on May 17, 2021. The following day, Omar transferred $12,216.70 from her checking account to her savings account.
United States Attorney Will Thompson announced the sentencing and praised the investigative efforts of several agencies including the West Virginia State Police – Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office Public Integrity and Fraud Unit (PIFU), Homeland Security Investigations, Horry County South Carolina Sheriff’s Office and Myrtle Beach Police Department.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber delivered the sentence with Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage prosecuting the case.
The COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force was established by the Attorney General on May 17, 2021. It aims to enhance efforts against pandemic-related fraud by investigating and prosecuting criminal actors involved in such schemes.
For more information on reporting attempted fraud involving COVID-19 relief funds or details about this case can be found through official channels provided by U.S. authorities.