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Denver Woman Pleads Guilty to $3.3 Million Covid Fraud
DENVER – A Denver woman has pleaded guilty to receiving over $3.3 million in Covid-19 loan funds through a scheme involving fraudulent applications, authorities announced today.
DeJane Reaniece Lattany, 32, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in connection with the scheme, which targeted the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) program.
According to court documents, Lattany submitted false and fraudulent applications to the Small Business Administration (SBA) on behalf of business entities she purportedly owned, making false statements regarding the entities’ number of employees, gross revenues, and cost of goods sold.
The SBA approved and funded five EIDL applications and three Economic Injury Disaster Grants (EIDGs) for a total of $430,000 in EIDLs and $20,000 in EIDGs. Lattany also submitted fraudulent PPP applications to participating lenders, obtaining $2,887,976.94 in PPP loans.
The bulk of the proceeds from the loans were used for Lattany’s personal benefit, rather than to pay eligible business expenses, authorities said.
Lattany pleaded guilty before United States District Court Judge Nina Y. Wang on April 26, 2023. Sentencing is scheduled for August 15, 2023.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Denver Division, and the prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole C. Cassidy and Rebecca S. Weber.
The COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, established by the Attorney General in May 2021, assisted in the investigation.
Lattany’s scheme highlights the importance of vigilance in preventing and detecting pandemic-related fraud.
As the nation continues to recover from the pandemic, authorities remain committed to holding accountable those who seek to exploit relief programs for personal gain.
The FBI and its partners will continue to work tirelessly to investigate and prosecute those involved in pandemic-related fraud schemes.
Key Facts
- State: Colorado
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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