Barrett Pleads Guilty to $550K Pandemic Loan Fraud

ATLANTA – Rena Barrett, a former Small Business Administration loan officer, has admitted to a staggering $550,000 in fraudulent COVID-19 pandemic loans. Barrett, 45, of Covington, Ga., was caught on August 11, 2025, for her deception within the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.

“Barrett’s betrayal of her position as an SBA officer is a stark reminder that some will exploit crisis for personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “We’re committed to bringing such criminals to justice.”

According to court documents, Barrett, who joined the SBA in October 2020, approved a fraudulent EIDL application for $170,000 and later resigned after her misdeeds were uncovered. Sheena Thompson, 49, of Conyers, Ga., also faces charges for attempting to obtain over $150,000 through false EIDL loans.

Detra Lewis, 40, of Atlanta, Ga., pleaded guilty on August 12, 2025, to obtaining more than $1.25 million through a fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loan application. Her organization, God’s Anointed Youth Ministry, was the target of her scheme.

The investigation into Barrett and Thompson is led by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, and Homeland Security Investigations. Lewis’s case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex R. Sistla will handle all prosecutions.

Established in May 2021, the DOJ’s COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force has been at the forefront of combating pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force continues to work with various agencies to prevent and investigate fraudulent schemes that exploit vital relief programs.

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