SPOKANE, WA – Roshon Edward Thomas, 42, of Spokane, is facing five years of federal probation after admitting to swindling over $54,900 in COVID-19 relief funds. The sentence, handed down by Senior United States District Judge Rosanna Malouf Peterson, is the first conviction secured by the newly formed Eastern Washington COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force.
Thomas exploited the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, specifically the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, designed to provide a lifeline to struggling small businesses during the pandemic. Instead of legitimate need, Thomas fabricated applications for two nonexistent businesses – a tattoo parlor and a clothing design company – and successfully obtained loans intended for those genuinely impacted by the economic downturn.
U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref minced no words, stating, “COVID-19 relief programs were designed to lift up our community during crisis… due to the number of people and businesses that requested funding, some deserving small businesses were not able to obtain funding to keep their businesses in operation.” The creation of the Strike Force, Waldref explained, is a direct response to the rampant abuse of these crucial programs, and a commitment to holding perpetrators accountable.
The Eastern Washington COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force, launched in February 2022, is a multi-agency behemoth comprised of representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General (OIG), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Department of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), U.S. Secret Service, and a host of other federal entities. The Strike Force has already yielded numerous indictments and millions in recovered funds, signaling a heightened focus on pandemic-related fraud in the region.
Court documents reveal that Thomas pleaded guilty in May 2022 to submitting false and fraudulent claims. He confessed to using fabricated information to secure the EIDL loans for both his sham businesses. As part of his probation, Thomas will be under court supervision, required to maintain employment, and ordered to fully repay the $54,900 he illegally obtained. This isn’t just about money, it’s about the businesses that legitimately needed that support and were denied it.
Waldref lauded the collaborative effort of the Strike Force, specifically acknowledging the investigative work of the SBA OIG, TIGTA, FBI, and ICE HSI. “We will continue to work together with our law enforcement partners,” she vowed, signaling that this conviction is just the first of many to come as the Strike Force ramps up its pursuit of those who preyed on the pandemic and the financial assistance intended for those who deserved it.
Related Federal Cases
- Gerardo Heriberto Nuñez Nuñez, Elder Fraud Scheme, Boston MA, 2026 · Pennsylvania
- James Pavlounis, Social Security Disability Benefits Fraud, New Roc… · Oregon
- Bradley Temple Embezzled COVID Funds, Wheeling WV, 2023 · West Virginia
- HHS Office of Inspector General, Health Fraud, Washington D.C., 2024 · Washington
- HHS Office of Inspector General, Healthcare Fraud Crackdown, Washin… · Georgia
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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