Hunter Lauren VanPelt, Bank Fraud, Georgia 2020

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Table of Contents

Bank Fraud: Roswell Businesswoman Pleads Guilty to $6M PPP Scam

ATLANTA – Hunter VanPelt, a/k/a Hunter Lauren VanPelt, a/k/a Ellen Corkrum, a/k/a Ellen Yabba Kwame Corkrum, who defrauded the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) of more than $6 million, has pleaded guilty to a charge of bank fraud.

According to Acting U.S. Attorney Kurt Erskine, the charge and other information presented in court: VanPelt submitted six false and fraudulent PPP loans between April 27, 2020 and June 17, 2020. The amounts requested in the six loans totaled $7,943,591.50, of which $6,017,066.50 was disbursed.

VanPelt owned or controlled the six entities that sought these PPP loans: Georgia Nephrology Physician Associated, United Healthcare Group & Co., Nephrology Network Group LLC, First Corporate International, Corkrum Consolidated Inc., and Kiwi International Inc.

The defendant, who legally changed her name from Ellen Corkrum to Hunter VanPelt in July 2016, submitted the PPP loan applications under both names. In each of the PPP loan applications, VanPelt falsely represented the average monthly payroll and the number of employees working for the relevant company. She also submitted false IRS records, false bank statements, and false payroll reports in connection with those applications.

Federal agents were able to seize approximately $2.1 million of the fraudulent proceeds.

‘The Paycheck Protection Program helps businesses keep their workforces employed during the COVID-19 crisis,’ said Acting U.S. Attorney Kurt Erskine. ‘When these funds are diverted by fraud, such as in this case, workers and the businesses that employ them unfortunately suffer.’

‘VanPelt brazenly exploited this devastating national emergency for personal gain, and she is now being held accountable for her fraudulent conduct,’ said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr., of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. ‘PPP funds should be reserved for legitimate businesses and their hard-working employees who have suffered economically as a result of the pandemic. The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that anyone who takes advantage of COVID-19 relief programs will be brought to justice.’