⏱ 2 min read
Anthony West, a 59-year-old Sacramento resident, pleaded guilty to a brazen bank and tax fraud scheme involving the submission of fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications. From April 2020 through February 2021, West submitted multiple false applications to various federally insured banks, claiming to own multiple businesses, including a freight logistics company, car dealership, and multimedia company. In reality, these businesses were shell companies with no legitimate employees and no payroll expenses.
West’s scheme was designed to deceive the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and federally insured banks, and he attempted to obtain $1,321,279 from his false PPP and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications. He actually obtained $571,179, which he used for his own personal enrichment and living expenses. As part of his scheme, West also aided the filing of a false tax return that claimed nearly one million dollars in nonexistent revenues.
West’s guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) San Francisco Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge David Lowe. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine on the bank fraud count. West’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 14, 2026, before United States District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: California
- Location: CA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
