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Kingdom City Biz Owner Sentenced for $673,000 CARES Act Scam
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Kingdom City, Mo., business owner has been sentenced in federal court for his role in a brazen $673,000 CARES Act scam.
Scott Allen Maples, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 18 months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Maples to pay $684,034 in restitution to the Small Business Administration.
Maples pleaded guilty on Feb. 7, 2023, to one count of bank fraud. He admitted to submitting five fraudulent loan applications under the CARES Act, claiming exaggerated and inaccurate payroll expenses and submitting fabricated and altered bank statements and tax forms.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Maples submitted loan applications to Square, Inc. and US Bank on behalf of Area 23, LLC, claiming 21 employees and an average monthly payroll of $69,548. However, Department of Labor records reflected that there was only one employee earning $182.50 in the first quarter of 2019.
Maples also submitted loan applications for Maples Enterprises and Clearance Depot, receiving a total of $673,127.04 in loan proceeds. The court found that Maples had submitted altered and incorrect statements in support of these loan applications.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Kummerer. It was investigated by the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, the FDIC Office of Inspector General, and IRS-Criminal Investigation.
The sentencing is a stark reminder of the need for vigilance in preventing and detecting COVID-19 relief fraud. The CARES Act was designed to provide relief to small businesses and individuals affected by the pandemic, but it has also been exploited by scammers like Maples.
Maples’ sentence serves as a warning to those who would seek to profit from the suffering of others during this pandemic.
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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