Mycheal Arnell Brady, Pandemic-Related Fraud, Georgia 2024

Georgia Man Indicted for Pandemic-Related Fraud and Stolen Identity Tax Refund Fraud

ATLANTA - Mycheal Arnell Brady, also known as 'Michael Brady,' has been indicted on federal charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, for stealing COVID-19 relief funds and submitting fraudulent federal tax refunds using the stolen identities of multiple individuals.

Brady, 36, of Peachtree City, Georgia, was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Christopher C. Bly on August 5, 2024. He was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 23, 2024.

The indictment alleges that Brady submitted several fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications to authorized lenders and the Small Business Administration. The applications contained fraudulent information regarding gross revenues and fake employees at his various companies and sought over $1.9 million in funding.

He allegedly received more than $330,000 from the fraudulent EIDL and PPP loans, which were not used for authorized business purposes.

In connection with his fraudulent schemes, Brady also allegedly possessed dozens of Social Security numbers belonging to the stolen identity theft victims, which Brady then used to apply for federal tax refunds. The victims were not aware of Brady's use of their personal identifying information nor did they consent to his filing of their federal tax refunds on their behalf.

According to U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan, the indictment and other information presented in court demonstrate Brady's alleged scheme to defraud programs designed to support legitimate businesses struggling during the COVID-19 relief pandemic.

Brady faces federal charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government's burden to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga/pr/georgia-man-indicted-pandemic-related-fraud-and-stolen-identity-tax-refund-fraud