Brandi McCoy, a 48-year-old resident of York County, has been sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for her involvement in a conspiracy to make false statements to a bank. The investigation revealed that McCoy operated a daycare in South Carolina and conspired with others between June 2020 and April 2022 to secure loans under the Paycheck Protection Program through fraudulent means.
The false statements made by McCoy included inflated numbers concerning the daycare's staff size, salaries, and expenses. These misrepresentations led to the approval of over $1 million in loans. Following the receipt of loan money, McCoy continued submitting false statements to request loan forgiveness and avoid repayment.
United States District Senior Court Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. handed down the sentence, which includes a three-year term of court-ordered supervision following imprisonment. In addition to her prison sentence, McCoy is required to pay restitution to the Small Business Administration.
This case was part of broader efforts by the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force established on May 17, 2021. The task force aims to combat pandemic-related fraud by enhancing coordination among government agencies and leveraging resources to identify fraudulent activities.
Individuals with information about attempted COVID-19-related fraud can report it through the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline or via their online complaint form.
The United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation into this case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney John Potterfield leading the prosecution.