A Boston woman has been sentenced for fraudulently obtaining pandemic-related relief funds through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Jameela Gross, 28, was sentenced to time served by U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young and will undergo three years of supervised release. She is also required to pay $18,750 in restitution after pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud in September 2024.
Gross was arrested in February 2024 along with over 40 members or associates of the Heath Street Gang on charges including racketeering conspiracy, drug trafficking, firearms offenses, and financial frauds related to COVID-19.
The PPP was part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act aimed at supporting small businesses. Loans under this program were processed by lenders and guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Businesses could have their loans forgiven if used for permissible expenses.
In April 2021, Gross submitted a fraudulent PPP loan application claiming to represent a photography business. The application included false statements about the business’s income and the purpose of the loan. Gross also provided false tax records to support her application, receiving approximately $18,750 based on these misrepresentations.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General; and Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Hoefle and Lucy Sun prosecuted the case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation that targets high-level criminal organizations using a multi-agency approach led by prosecutors. More details about OCDETF can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force was established on May 17, 2021, to combat pandemic-related fraud through enhanced coordination across government agencies. The Task Force aims to investigate and prosecute key domestic and international criminals while aiding agencies in preventing fraud within relief programs.
Information regarding attempted COVID-19 fraud can be reported via the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or through their online complaint form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.