CHARLESTON, S.C. – Antonio Brown-Sanders, 26, of Charleston, is trading the South Carolina sunshine for a year and a day in federal prison after pleading guilty to a brazen scheme to steal COVID-19 relief funds. The conviction serves as a harsh reminder that exploiting a national crisis for personal gain won’t go unpunished.
Brown-Sanders illegally applied for an Emergency Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, a $2.2 trillion package designed to keep the American economy afloat during the pandemic. The CARES Act included over $640 billion in forgivable loans for small businesses and low-interest loans for businesses struggling to pay bills. But Brown-Sanders wasn’t a struggling business owner; he simply fabricated one.
Court documents reveal Brown-Sanders falsely claimed to own a lawn care business, inflating both the number of employees and the company’s gross income on his application to the Small Business Administration (SBA). The scheme worked, at least temporarily. Brown-Sanders walked away with $81,600 in taxpayer money, funds desperately needed by legitimate businesses crippled by the pandemic.
“The defendant in this case stole from American taxpayers and prevented pandemic-relief funds from reaching those who needed them most,” stated U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs. “The District of South Carolina is committed to pursuing and investigating those who defraud government programs.” The feds aren’t kidding – they’re actively seeking tips from the public about potential COVID-19 fraud, urging anyone with information to contact the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline.
The Secret Service, leading the investigation, isn’t letting up. “The Secret Service is diligent in our investigation and pursuit of those who engage in fraudulent criminal activity,” said Resident Agent in Charge Ben Stafford. Judge Richard Gergel sentenced Brown-Sanders to 12 months and one day behind bars, followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Crucially, the court ordered him to pay restitution totaling $65,246.48 – meaning he’ll be paying back a significant portion of what he stole. There’s no parole in the federal system, so Brown-Sanders will serve nearly the full sentence.
This case is part of a larger effort by the Attorney General’s COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, established in May 2021 to coordinate investigations and prosecutions of pandemic-related fraud across the country. The SBA’s Office of Inspector General also played a key role, with Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite stating, “Those that use fraudulent documents to gain access to SBA programs funds will be met with justice.” The message is clear: stealing from pandemic relief programs is a serious crime with serious consequences.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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