⏱ 3 min read
In a brazen COVID-19 loan scam, Joshua Brandon Johnson, 34, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, laundered over $20,000 in fraudulently obtained Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan money. Johnson’s scheme unfolded in June 2021, when he received the cash, claiming to be a barber who earned nearly $100,000 in 2020. In reality, he was a convicted felon with a history of failing to meet child support obligations.
Johnson quickly withdrew $20,000 in cash upon receiving the loan proceeds, fearing the money could be garnished from his account. He spent the remaining $2,208 on fast food, gas station purchases, and home food delivery. In a desperate bid to keep the cash, Johnson submitted a false application to have the loan forgiven, claiming he had spent the money on ‘Payroll Costs.’
When confronted by federal agents, Johnson shrugged off the allegations, saying he was ‘just shooting my shot.’ Johnson’s plea agreement admitted to engaging in a monetary transaction in property derived from specified unlawful activity.
On April 23, 2026, Johnson was sentenced to more than two years in federal prison for his role in the PPP loan scam. His extensive criminal history in Iowa and Indiana includes multiple convictions and stints in prison for failing to meet child support obligations.
Related Federal Cases
- Indianapolis Man Gets 200 Months for Cocaine Conspiracy · Iowa
- Ryan Dalbec, Bribery and Contract Rigging, Alaska, 2023 · Iowa
- Alexandra Anaya Murdered, Chicago IL, 2023 · Iowa
- Dylan A. Campbell, Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography, Moline I… · Iowa
- John Doe Sentenced to 10 Years for Methamphetamine Possession with … · Iowa
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Iowa
- Location: IA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
