Edrica Leann Watson, PPP Loan Fraud, Florida 2022

FORT MYERS, FL – Edrica Leann Watson, 40, of Lehigh Acres, Florida, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 15 months for a brazen scheme to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell also slapped Watson with five years of supervised release and a staggering $434,227.50 in restitution to the banks she swindled. The court further ordered forfeiture of $392,563.00, representing the ill-gotten gains from the fraud.

Watson, the purported owner and operator of Unity Home Care Services, LLC (UHC), built her scam on a foundation of lies. Court documents reveal UHC was little more than a paper company, formed in September 2020 and never actually operational before Watson began applying for PPP loans in April 2021. She initially secured two loans totaling $41,664.00, but wasn’t satisfied. She then submitted a third, much larger application for $392,563.00, bringing the total fraudulent haul to $434,227.50.

The scheme hinged on falsified records. Watson misrepresented UHC’s number of employees, wages, and income on the loan applications, inflating the company’s financial standing to justify the requested loan amount. She didn’t stop there. To further solidify her deception, Watson submitted fraudulent tax documents and a fabricated income statement, attempting to convince financial institutions of UHC’s legitimacy. The Secret Service investigation quickly uncovered the sham.

Watson pleaded guilty on March 22, 2022, acknowledging her guilt in the scheme. The sentencing comes as part of a larger federal crackdown on pandemic-related fraud, spearheaded by the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force established by the Attorney General in May 2021. The Task Force aims to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who exploited the pandemic for personal gain, recovering stolen funds and holding perpetrators accountable.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jesus M. Casas prosecuted the case, with forfeiture handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Nebesky. The investigation was led by agents of the United States Secret Service, demonstrating the agency’s continued commitment to combating financial crimes, even – and especially – those that prey on national emergencies. This case serves as a warning: attempting to profit from pandemic relief programs will be met with swift and severe consequences.

Federal officials urge anyone with information about COVID-19 related fraud to report it immediately. The Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) can be reached at 866-720-5721 or through their online complaint form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. Don’t let scammers get away with stealing from vital relief programs.

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