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Ocala Woman Charged with Wire Fraud
Ocala, FL – A 52-year-old Ocala woman has been arrested for allegedly defrauding the Small Business Administration (SBA) out of $41,452 through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
According to court documents, Lisa Yvette Starkes devised a scheme to submit false PPP loan applications between August 4, 2020, and April 12, 2021. The loan proceeds were electronically transferred into her bank account.
The indictment, returned on August 6, 2024, charges Starkes with two counts of wire fraud, each carrying a potential 20-year prison sentence. If convicted, she will also be required to forfeit the $41,452 in unlawful proceeds.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.
The COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, established by the Attorney General on May 17, 2021, has been working to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud.
If you have any information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19, you can report it by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline or submitting a Web Complaint Form.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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