Renic Palmer Jr., a 25-year-old resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced on February 13, 2025, by United States District Judge Carl J. Barbier. Palmer had previously pled guilty to making false statements to the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.
Court documents revealed that Palmer submitted false writings and documents to secure a Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loan. He falsely claimed ownership of a merchant wholesale hair supply company established in 2017 and eligibility for PPP funds. This deception resulted in Palmer obtaining $20,832 from the SBA.
Judge Barbier sentenced Palmer to three years of probation and ordered him to pay restitution of $20,832 to the SBA, along with a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
The Department of Justice encourages anyone with information regarding attempted COVID-19 fraud to report it via their National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline or through their web complaint form.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the Special Agents of the Coast Guard Investigative Service for their efforts in this case. The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Andre J. Lagarde of the Public Integrity Unit.