The U.S. Department of Justice Tuesday announced 12 new convictions and 11 new cases against people charged with fraudulently obtaining CARES money. Six others pleaded guilty to money laundering or wire fraud in connection with falsely claiming COVID-19 federal relief funds.
“The Criminal Division and our partners are committed to identifying and holding accountable those who exploit the COVID-19 pandemic for their own gain,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. in a statement. “As these cases demonstrate, we are unwavering in our determination to prosecute those who have defrauded relief programs meant to help struggling Americans during the pandemic.”
According to the DOJ, the defendants sentenced are:
Darrell Thomas, 36, of Johns Creek, Georgia, was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Charles Petty, aka Charles Knight, 49, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison.
Khalil Gibran Green Sr., 47, of Cleveland, Ohio, was sentenced to three years and five months in prison.
Bern Benoit, 45, of Burbank, California, was sentenced to two years and three months in prison.
Charmaine Redding, 28, of Macomb, Michigan, was sentenced to two years and three months in prison.
Charles Hill, IV, 46, of Norcross, Georgia, was sentenced to five years of probation, including the first 27 months on home detention.
Andre Lee Gaines, 67, of Dallas, Georgia, was sentenced to five years of probation.
Denesseria Slaton, 53, of McDonough, Georgia, was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison.
Amanda Christian, 34, of Blythewood, South Carolina, was sentenced to three years and five months in prison.
Derek Parker, 57, of Rochester Hills, Michigan, was sentenced to one year and six months in prison.
Rick McDuffie, 51, of Little Rock, South Carolina, was sentenced to two years in prison.
David Belgrave, 50, of Lexington, South Carolina, was sentenced to nine months in prison.
Ryan Whittley, 35, of South Holland, Illinois, was sentenced to one year and nine months in prison.
The following six defendants pleaded guilty, the DOJ states:
Dwan Ashong, aka Dwan Gilpin, 41, of Jacksonville, Florida, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering.
El Hadj Sall, 40, of Jacksonville, Florida, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Megan Thomas, 33, of Alpharetta, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Ricky Dixon, 53, of Warren, Michigan, pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Jesika Blakely, 34, of Atlanta, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Cases opened charged with coronavirus relief fraud, DOJ lawyers said included:
Amber Singleton, 42, and Emanuel Tucker, 42, both of Canyon Lake, California, were charged in the Central District of California by indictment for their roles in an alleged scheme to obtain $15.9 million in PPP and EIDL funds through fraud.
Karen Sarkisyan, 42, of Glendale, California, Gayk Akhsharumov, 38, of Sherman Oaks, California, and Babken Chalkadryan, 38, of Van Nuys, California, were each charged in the Central District of California by indictment for their roles in an alleged scheme to submit false or fraudulent Medicare claims totalling more than $9 million.
Dumarsais Blaise, 45, of Stonecrest, Georgia, and Alexander Blaise, 41, of Plantation, Florida, were charged in the Southern District of Florida by indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering for their roles in an alleged scheme to obtain $1.6 million in PPP funds through fraud.
DOJ lawyers stated the following pleaded guilty:
Marque Willard Johnson, 40, of Tampa, Florida, pleaded guilty in the Middle District of Florida to bank fraud and money laundering as part of a scheme to fraudulently obtain $544,900 in PPP and EIDL funds.
Samuel Morgan Yates, 35, of Maud, Texas, was sentenced to 68 months in prison in the Eastern District of Texas prison for a $5.5 million PPP loan fraud scheme.
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