Rena Barrett, Pandemic Loan Fraud, Georgia 2025

Rena Barrett, a 45-year-old former Small Business Administration (SBA) loan officer, has been found guilty of making false statements to the SBA in connection with applications for more than $550,000 in fraudulent COVID-19 pandemic loans.

According to the United States Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provided critical relief to small businesses and supported the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Barrett, who was entrusted to process loans for desperate small businesses, placed her personal greed ahead of doing her job honestly.

As stated by Special Agent-in-Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite of SBA Office of the Inspector General’s Eastern Region, ‘Abusing authority to fraudulently obtain Economic Injury Disaster Loan funds betrays the trust of small businesses relying on critical relief.’

In a separate case, on April 15, 2025, Sheena Thompson, 49, of Conyers, Ga., pled guilty to a criminal information charging her with making false statements to the SBA. Thompson admitted to trying to obtain more than $150,000 in fraudulent EIDL loans.

Additionally, on August 12, 2025, Detra Lewis, 40, of Atlanta, Ga., pled guilty to making false statements to the SBA. Lewis obtained more than $1.25 million after submitting a false Paycheck Protection Program loan application on behalf of God’s Anointed Youth Ministry.

The cases against Barrett and Thompson are being investigated by the United States Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, and Homeland Security Investigations. The case against Lewis is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Alex R. Sistla is prosecuting each case.

Rena Barrett is scheduled to be sentenced on November 12, 2025, and Thompson is scheduled to be sentenced on August 28, 2025. Detra Lewis is scheduled to be sentenced on November 14, 2025.

The Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provided critical relief to small businesses and supported the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The government is committed to rooting out and punishing government employees who betray the public’s trust.

The investigation into the cases was made possible through the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, which was established by the government to marshal resources in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud.

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