Randon ‘Romero’ Williams, 40, a West Bloomfield, Michigan resident, was arrested and charged with wire fraud and money laundering for allegedly defrauding financial institutions and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) out of more than $5 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans.
The complaint alleges that between April 2020 and March 2021, Williams submitted six applications for PPP loans under the names of various businesses, including ‘The Romero Group’ and ‘Step Ladder Construction.’ Investigators claim that these businesses either existed only on paper or that the applications materially inflated employee headcounts, payroll expenses, and gross receipts.
According to the complaint, Williams claimed that these businesses employed between 21 and 75 individuals and reported monthly payroll expenses of over half a million dollars. To support these claims, Williams allegedly submitted falsified tax documents with the loan applications.
‘The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was designed to be a lifeline for struggling businesses during a global disaster event, not a free-for-all for any unscrupulous fraudster looking for easy money,’ said Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly Fasbinder and investigated by IRS Criminal Investigations.
A complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
In related news, a Michigan man has been charged with PPP fraud.
Related Federal Cases
- Academy Packing Co, Wire Fraud, Michigan 2002 · Alabama
- Andrew Helsel, Conspiracy to Commit Financial Institution Fraud, Michigan 2023 · Michigan
- Antonio George, Wire Fraud, Michigan 2024 · Michigan
- Darrell Baker, Bank Fraud and Money Laundering, Michigan 2024 · Michigan
- Joseph Gregory Dumouchelle, Wire Fraud, Michigan 2024 · Michigan
Key Facts
- State: Michigan
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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