Munira Schofield, Wire Fraud, Louisiana 2024

Laplace Resident Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud Conspiracy

A 28-year-old resident of LaPlace, Louisiana, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with the submission of fraudulent COVID-19 relief applications.

Munira Schofield, the daughter of Lynn and Bashir Schofield, who previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the offense, admitted to submitting a fraudulent application for an Economic Injury Disaster (EIDL) loan for a business she claimed to own, 'Just Jocin.'

In addition to submitting a fraudulent application for an EIDL loan, Schofield also gave false material information to the Small Business Administration (SBA) that grossly inflated the monthly gross receipts to support other loans, including for an entity named 'Afromerica Touch 360, LLC.'

According to court documents, Schofield and her family members submitted applications to obtain money from Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and EIDL loans fraudulently. Each defendant submitted at least one loan, and all applications falsely represented that the applicant had a sole proprietorship and generated substantial income from the business by overinflating gross receipts.

The total loss caused by Schofield's conduct is estimated to be approximately $219,033.

Schofield faces up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Sentencing before Judge Eldon E. Fallon has been scheduled for August 22, 2024.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg is in charge of the prosecution.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edla/pr/laplace-resident-pleads-guilty-conspiracy-commit-wire-fraud-role-preparing-and