Marcus Eichelberger, Wire Fraud, Florida 2022

A Jacksonville pastor has been accused of perpetrating a brazen scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program, with authorities alleging he obtained $50,000 in loans for illegitimate purposes.

Marcus Eichelberger, 46, a former church pastor in Jacksonville, Florida, has been indicted on four counts of wire fraud related to PPP loans from the SBA, according to a recent indictment.

If convicted, Eichelberger faces up to 20 years in federal prison per count, with a total of 80 years of potential prison time hanging in the balance.

The indictment alleges that between March 2021 and February 2022, Eichelberger directed another individual to fraudulently complete and submit applications for PPP loans from the SBA that they were not entitled to receive. As part of the application process, it is alleged that Eichelberger and the other individual certified that the proceeds would be used to maintain payroll and pay expenses for a purported business.

After the loans were approved, it is alleged that Eichelberger and the other individual retained the proceeds for their personal use and not for any legitimate PPP purpose. Furthermore, it is alleged that Eichelberger and the other individual fraudulently applied for forgiveness of both loans, causing an estimated loss of approximately $50,000.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to prosecuting those who use fraud and deception to exploit our nation’s federal benefits programs,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of these taxpayer-funded programs.”

This case was investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelli Swaney.

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 alleged scheme to defraud the SBA Paycheck Protection Program highlights the ongoing threat posed by white-collar crime in the Sunshine State.

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