Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced a significant legal development involving a suburban Cook County woman accused of fraudulent activities related to pandemic relief funds. The individual, Takeisha Williams, aged 46 from Homewood, Illinois, pleaded guilty to theft, classified as a Class 2 felony, in a case concerning Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds.
The prosecution, led by the Attorney General's office, highlighted that Williams fraudulently applied for and received federal aid totaling nearly $59,998 during the COVID-19 pandemic. This assistance, designed for struggling small businesses, was misappropriated for a fictitious catering business.
"COVID-era assistance programs were vital for the survival of countless small businesses that were upended by the pandemic," Raoul stated. He emphasized the importance of accountability, noting, "Unfortunately, bad actors took advantage of these programs for their own financial benefit. I will continue to ensure individuals who exploited pandemic assistance programs to line their own pockets are held accountable."
Court proceedings revealed that Williams secured an EIDL of $10,000 and a PPP loan amounting to $20,832 from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in April 2021, followed by a second PPP loan for $29,166 in June 2021, all under the guise of the non-existent business.
Cook County Circuit Court Judge Mary M. Brosnahan sentenced Williams to pay restitution of $59,998 and mandated her to complete a three-year second chance probation period.
This action represents an ongoing effort by Attorney General Raoul to prosecute fraudulent claims related to pandemic relief programs. According to Raoul’s office, several cases have been prosecuted, with further investigations referred to appropriate authorities for evaluation.
Assistant Attorney General Maribeth Ennis played a key role in prosecuting Williams as part of Raoul’s Special Prosecutions Bureau.