Jerry Baptiste, the final defendant in a large-scale scheme to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been sentenced. Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. stated, "This defendant and his co-conspirators used an unprecedented global crisis to defraud the government and the American people." He added that the sentence is a warning against stealing from the government.
Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, emphasized that this sentencing concludes an extensive investigation into fraud that deprived businesses and individuals of emergency funds during the pandemic. "The FBI will make every effort to ensure federal funds are used as intended and punish anyone who would steal from our government," he said.
Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman of IRS Criminal Investigation in Atlanta remarked on ongoing efforts to investigate PPP fraud. "IRS Criminal Investigation special agents will continue their diligent search for those who defrauded the American people during the COVID-19 pandemic," he stated.
According to court documents, Jerry Baptiste conspired with others from April 2020 through May 2020 to submit fraudulent PPP loan applications for Transportation Management Services Inc., falsely claiming it had 66 employees and a monthly payroll of $332,167. The fraudulent application included false IRS Form 941s and a fake bank statement, resulting in $830,417 being obtained illegally.
Baptiste was sentenced by U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee to six and a half years in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution of $830,417 after pleading guilty to money laundering on October 29, 2024.
All defendants involved have been convicted and sentenced with penalties ranging from probation to 15 years’ imprisonment:
- Darrell Thomas received 180 months’ imprisonment.
- Andre Lee Gaines was sentenced to five years’ probation.
- Kahlil Gibran Green received 41 months’ imprisonment.
- Bern Benoit was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment.
- Carla Jackson received 36 months’ imprisonment.
- Ricky Dixon was sentenced to 100 months’ imprisonment.
- Meghan Thomas received 18 months’ imprisonment.
- Jesika Blakely was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment.
- Amanda Christian received 41 months’ imprisonment.
- Dwan Ashong was sentenced to 51 months’ imprisonment.
- John Gaines received 63 months’ imprisonment.
- Charles Petty was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment.
- Derek Parker received 18 months' imprisonment.
- David Belgrave II was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment with home detention.
- Charles Hill IV received five years' probation with home detention.
- Ryan Whittley was sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment.
- El Hadj Sall received 27 months' imprisonment.
- Rick McDuffie was sentenced to 24 months' imprisonment.
- Teldrin Foster received a sentence of 121 months' imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samir Kaushal and Nathan Kitchens along with Trial Attorney Siji Moore.
The Department of Justice continues its efforts against COVID-related fraud. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus or reported via their hotline at (866)720–5721.
For further details contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404)581–6280.