Find Corporate Waste

Tag: SBA

  • Utah Men Charged in Alleged $5.5M IRS and SBA COVID-Relief Fraud Scheme

    Utah Men Charged in Alleged $5.5M IRS and SBA COVID-Relief Fraud Scheme

    Federal prosecutors have charged two Provo, Utah men in an alleged scheme to defraud the IRS and the Small Business Administration out of more than $5.5 million tied to COVID-era relief programs.

    According to the SBA Office of Inspector General⁠, David Starling, 61, and Benjamin Young, 39, were charged with conspiring to defraud the United States. Young was also charged with twelve counts of wire fraud. A third defendant, Adam Starling of Oregon, previously pleaded guilty.

    The government alleges the defendants owned or controlled eight companies and falsely listed family members — including spouses and children — as employees. Prosecutors say they created false tax documents reporting more than $4 million in wages, then used those documents to obtain COVID-relief benefits.

    The alleged proceeds included $3 million in tax credits and $200,000 in Paycheck Protection Program loans, which were later forgiven based on alleged false statements.

    The case also includes a separate SBA-backed loan angle. Prosecutors allege Young used fraud proceeds and embezzled funds to buy commercial space in Provo, then relied on fabricated documents to obtain a $2.5 million SBA-secured bank loan.

    For Find Corporate Waste⁠, this case is another reminder that COVID-relief enforcement is not just about the original loan. It is about payroll records, forgiveness certifications, tax filings, affiliated entities, and the paper trail behind taxpayer-backed money.

  • Louisiana Woman Pleads Guilty in PPP Kickback Scheme

    Louisiana Woman Pleads Guilty in PPP Kickback Scheme

    A Louisiana woman pleaded guilty for her role in a multi-state Paycheck Protection Program fraud scheme that allegedly used ineligible borrowers, fake tax forms, and kickbacks to obtain pandemic-relief funds.

    According to the DOJ, Lisa Lemoine, 38, of Bossier City, Louisiana, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

    Federal prosecutors said Lemoine worked with alleged co-conspirators Sniders Jean-Jacques, Lorne Johnson, Tanya Pierre, Ashley Spike, and others to submit fraudulent PPP applications for borrowers and collect up to 30% of the loan proceeds as a fee.

    Beginning in March 2021, Lemoine allegedly recruited borrowers who were not eligible for PPP loans, claimed they operated qualifying businesses, and created fake tax forms to support the applications.

    Prosecutors said she received kickbacks from borrowers who obtained PPP funds and shared those payments with co-conspirators.

    Jean-Jacques, Johnson, Pierre, and Spike were charged separately in connection with the same alleged scheme.

    The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the scheme.

    This case underscores why Find Corporate Waste tracks PPP cases. Anyone with inside knowledge of PPP application brokers, fake tax forms, borrower-recruitment networks, or lender-side approval failures may have information relevant to public-fraud enforcement.

    Contact Find Corporate Waste if you know how taxpayer funds were obtained, approved, or forgiven despite false statements.

  • Georgia Man Gets 37 Months in $441K COVID Relief Fraud Case

    Georgia Man Gets 37 Months in $441K COVID Relief Fraud Case

    Brian Graham, 49, of Lithia Springs, Georgia, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud in a COVID-relief scheme involving the PPP and EIDL programs.

    According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado, Graham prepared and submitted fraudulent loan applications between April 2020 and August 2021 for several business entities he controlled. Prosecutors said the applications misstated employee counts, gross revenues, cost of goods sold, and payroll.

    The court ordered Graham to pay $441,546 in restitution, serve three years of supervised release, and forfeit proceeds tied to the offense. The SBA also highlighted the sentence.

    The critical allegation was not just bad paperwork. Graham certified that the information was accurate and that the funds would be used for payroll and other approved business expenses. Prosecutors said he instead used the bulk of the money for himself.

    The case, United States v. Graham, 1:25-cr-00079-JLK, was investigated by TIGTA and the SBA Office of Inspector General.

    Brian Graham allegedly used his role as a notary to defraud the American taxpayer.

    For Find Corporate Waste, the Graham case is a reminder that pandemic fraud often hides in plain sight: controlled entities, inflated numbers, false certifications, and taxpayer-backed money converted into personal gain.