JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The grimy truth behind the CARES Act’s financial floodgates: Scott Allen Maples, 40, of Kingdom City, Mo., was sentenced today to 18 months in federal prison for swindling over $673,000 from the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Maples, a local business owner, pleaded guilty on February 7, 2023, to bank fraud charges. The court ordered him to pay $684,034 in restitution. His fraudulent scheme targeted the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), using exaggerated payroll expenses and doctored documents to secure multiple loans.
Maples’ deceitful dance began with a May 6, 2020, application to Square, Inc., for Area 23, LLC, where he falsely claimed 21 employees and a monthly payroll of $69,548. He successfully pocketed $173,872 from this scheme. His duplicity continued on May 15, 2020, when he applied to US Bank for the same business, reiterating his fraudulent claims and again walking away with $173,872.
Maples also siphoned $51,750 from Maples Enterprises through Square, falsely stating six employees earned an average of $20,700 per month. In reality, Department of Labor records showed just one employee earning a paltry $182.50 in 2019. His lies didn’t stop there; Clearance Depot received a $270,632 PPP loan based on altered statements, and Maples sought a $30,000 Economic Injury Disaster Loan with falsified revenue figures.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Kummerer, investigated by the SBA Office of Inspector General, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, FDIC Office of Inspector General, and IRS-Criminal Investigation.
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Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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