DETROIT – Greed trumped desperation for three Macomb County residents who today admitted to systematically looting the Paycheck Protection Program, a federal lifeline thrown to businesses drowning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rita Shaba, 39, of Macomb, and Samer Kammo, 45, of Shelby Township, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire and bank fraud before Judge Jonathan J.C. Grey. Christina Anasi, 35, of Shelby Township, previously entered a guilty plea to the same conspiracy.
The scheme, according to court records, involved fabricating payroll information and submitting phony documentation – bank statements, tax records, even health insurance details – to secure over $3 million in fraudulent PPP loans. These weren’t honest mistakes; they were calculated lies designed to line the defendants’ pockets while legitimate businesses struggled to survive. The trio allegedly misrepresented the intended use of the funds, diverting them from their intended purpose of keeping employees on the payroll and businesses afloat.
Federal investigators haven’t been idle. To date, law enforcement has managed to claw back over $2.1 million of the stolen funds, a small victory in a sea of pandemic-era fraud. But the damage is done, and the betrayal stings. The Paycheck Protection Program was meant to be a safety net, not a slush fund for criminals. The actions of Shaba, Kammo, and Anasi directly undermined those efforts.
“While the numbers fraudsters used to illicitly enrich themselves were fake, the prison time they’re facing is very real,” declared United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. “My office is committed to holding accountable all those who chose to exploit a global pandemic to steal from hardworking taxpayers.” The sentiment was echoed by Reuben Coleman, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, who stated the defendants “eroded the trust placed in critical relief efforts.”
ICE HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey was blunt: “This money was designed to support businesses and help them navigate the pandemic, instead these defendants used it to enrich themselves and deprive honest businesses of much needed assistance.” He warned potential fraudsters that “if you stole money during the pandemic, it’s only a matter of time before law enforcement is knocking at your door.” A chilling reminder that the long arm of the law reaches even into the shadows of financial deceit.
Shaba is scheduled for sentencing on January 5, 2026, while Anasi will face Judge Grey on January 7, 2026, and Kammo on January 15, 2026. Each defendant faces a maximum sentence of up to 30 years imprisonment. The case was investigated by special agents of the FBI and ICE HSI Detroit and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Yahkind. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it moves toward sentencing and beyond.
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Key Facts
- State: Michigan
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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