Fourteen Texans and one Louisiana resident have been indicted in a scheme involving falsified documents to obtain financial aid, as announced by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. The individuals are accused of securing fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and unemployment insurance benefits.
The final five individuals arrested in this case are set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Dena Hanovice Palermo. They are Brittany Garner-Richard from Humble, Miguel Bell from Port Arthur, Candace Booker and Andrea King from Beaumont, along with Joshe Johnson from Corrigan.
On March 4, a federal grand jury issued an 18-count indictment. The charges claim that Ebone Myrriah Mott, a resident of Houston, conspired with others to submit falsified applications to fraudulently qualify for PPP loans and unemployment benefits.
According to the charges, Mott allegedly formed fictitious companies, falsified records, and submitted applications on behalf of co-conspirators. In return, she reportedly charged approximately $200 upfront, plus 10% of the payouts.
The fraud involved misleading the Small Business Administration by submitting fraudulent loan applications and insurance claims. Mott faces one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 17 counts of wire fraud.
Besides those arrested, others charged in the conspiracy include Tiara Petties and Jennifer Petties from Livingston, Kierra Patrice Chancey and Dekovan Williams from Nacogdoches, Roy Shemeaker from Dallas, Trakeesha Nishell Brown from Lufkin, Veronica Moses from Diboll, Travecia Hampton-Isabell from Whitehouse, and Frankie Desiree Bogany from Vivian, Louisiana. They were taken into custody between March 23 and 26.
The PPP is part of the CARES Act, a federal law enacted in March 2020 to provide financial aid to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Unemployment insurance benefits are also intended for individuals who lose jobs through no fault of their own and meet state eligibility requirements.
Those convicted could face up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.
The investigation was carried out by the Department of State - Diplomatic Security Service, Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General, and California Employment Development Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Day is handling the prosecution.
It should be noted that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.