Kamario Thomas, Wire Fraud and Money Laundering, Georgia 2024

Related Federal Cases

John Doe, Marine Corps Bribery Scheme, Albany GA, 2023 · Georgia
Edna Yvonne Orr Goff, Tax Defraud Scheme, GA, 2014 · Alabama
Wheeler Gets 17.5 Years for Tax Fraud Scheme · Alabama
Gadsden Brothers Bankroll Fraud Scheme, Face Decades in Prison · Louisiana
McCall’s Mail Fraud Scheme Nets $656K, Lands Him in Hot Water · Alabama

Table of Contents

Grimy Times Exclusive

Kamario Thomas, a 42-year-old Richmond County man from Augusta, has been sentenced to 38 months in federal prison for his role in a COVID-19 relief scheme that netted over $4.5 million in loans and grants.

According to a federal indictment, Thomas, who pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Money Laundering, submitted false and fraudulent applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) on behalf of himself and others. In exchange for his services, he received hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks.

As part of his scheme, Thomas fabricated IRS forms and tax records to make the applications appear legitimate. The scheme caused the disbursement of over $4.5 million in fraudulent CARES Act loans and grants.

U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg praised the work of her team and law enforcement partners in bringing Thomas to justice. ‘In collaboration with our law enforcement partners, we continue to pursue those who illegally profited from a COVID-19 program designed to help struggling small businesses,’ Steinberg said. ‘Kamario Thomas defrauded the government and aided other individuals in stealing money from the taxpayers, and this sentence holds him accountable.’

Thomas will also have to pay $4,546,945 in restitution to the U.S. Small Business Administration and serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term.

The case was investigated by the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, IRS Criminal Investigation, the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenifer A. Stanley.

If you have information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19, you can report it by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.