⏱ 2 min read
A Chicago cop allegedly cooked the books to score $41,000 in COVID-relief loans, authorities said. Brandi Wright, a 44-year-old Chicago Police sergeant, submitted phony loan applications for a bakery business that didn’t exist, claiming $250,000 in annual revenue and $100,000 in payroll costs, according to a federal indictment. She used the funds for personal gain, prosecutors alleged.
The scheme unfolded in 2021, with Wright submitting two Paycheck Protection Program loan applications. The applications contained false statements about her business, including gross revenue, payroll needs, and operational expenses, the indictment states.
Wright, a 17-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of wire fraud. The FBI and IRS investigated the case, which is a rare example of a cop caught in a COVID-relief loan scam.
Wright’s arraignment has not been scheduled yet. The case reflects the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois’ efforts to tackle COVID-19-related fraud, authorities said.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Illinois
- Location: IL
- Source: DOJ Press Release
