Marion, IA – Denisha Clarice Morrison, 28, was handed an 18-month federal prison sentence after swindling over $25,000 in disaster and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds. The eastern Iowa resident pleaded guilty to theft of government funds and wire fraud, authorities reported.
The heist came during a period of dual economic distress: Morrison deceitfully claimed she lived in a damaged Cedar Rapids apartment following the August 2020 derecho, securing $7,000 from FEMA. Less than a year later, she posed as a cleaning business owner to obtain $20,000 in PPP loans despite having no such enterprise.
Morrison’s fraud wasn’t limited to financial claims; while her case was pending, she tested positive for illegal substances, failed to secure full-time employment, and breached home detention protocols. Her extensive criminal record includes a dozen state convictions ranging from theft to assault.
Judge C.J. Williams of the United States District Court in Cedar Rapids sentenced Morrison, ordering her to pay $27,191.45 in restitution to FEMA and the Small Business Administration (SBA). Following her prison term, she must serve a three-year supervised release without parole.
Morrison’s conviction was secured by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek, with investigation support from the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General.
For more details on Morrison’s case, visit the court file information, where case numbers 24-CR-55 and 25-CR-2001 are listed. Follow @USAO_NDIA for updates.
RELATED: Marion Woman Sentenced for $25K Derecho & COVID Fraud
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Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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