NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – A brazen scheme to siphon over a million dollars from the Paycheck Protection Program has landed a Houston woman in federal court. SHARNAE EVERY, 27, pled guilty on March 2, 2023, to Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, a charge that carries a hefty potential sentence. The case originated from a tip to the COVID-19 Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC), setting off an investigation that exposed a network of fraudulent loan applications.
EVERY allegedly built her operation around a fictitious business, “Natural Hair Afro, LLC, Houma, LA 70360,” using it as a cornerstone for over 110 fraudulent PPP sole proprietor loan applications centered around the Thibodeaux, Louisiana area. Investigators found a disturbing pattern: identical invoices and federal tax forms (Schedule Cs) with the same business name and amounts appearing repeatedly. This wasn’t a case of isolated errors; it was a calculated, systematic attempt to defraud the government.
The scheme wasn’t conducted in the shadows. EVERY allegedly advertised her services on Facebook under various aliases, actively recruiting individuals willing to participate in the fraud. She then prepared and submitted the false loan applications through platforms like Blueacorn, creating fabricated invoices, bank statements, and Schedule Cs to support the claims. She falsely certified the accuracy of the information, knowing full well it was a lie.
The price of participation? EVERY charged her recruits between $45.00 and $120.00 to prepare and submit the fraudulent applications. But the real payoff came when the loans were approved. She allegedly demanded approximately $3,500.00 per funded loan, receiving the funds through Cash App, her Current account, or even her boyfriend’s account – a clear attempt to obscure the trail of money.
If convicted, EVERY faces up to twenty (20) years in prison and a fine of $250,000.00, or twice the gross gain she made or the gross loss to others. Following imprisonment, she could face up to three (3) years of supervised release and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee. Sentencing is scheduled for June 8, 2023, before Chief United States District Judge Carl J. Barbier.
This case is part of a larger effort by the Department of Justice’s COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, established to combat pandemic-related fraud. Authorities urge anyone with information about COVID-19 fraud to report it to the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via their web complaint form. The Veterans Administration, Office of the Inspector General, is actively involved in the PRAC Fraud Task Force, highlighting the broad reach of this investigation.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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