NEW ORLEANS – A Maryland woman has been sentenced to five years of probation for her role in a COVID-19 loan fraud scheme in Louisiana.
Siedah Eley, 31, of Columbia, Maryland, was sentenced on October 25, 2023, by United States District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle after previously pleading guilty to a one-count bill of information charging her with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371 and 1343.
The charge stems from Eley’s role in preparing and filing false applications for loans related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Eley was also ordered to pay $166,656 in restitution and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
According to court documents, Eley used both word-of-mouth and text messages to solicit individuals interested in fraudulently obtaining money from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) program with her assistance. When a prospective applicant expressed interest, Eley requested the applicant’s name, address, social security, and phone number, a copy of the front and back of the applicant’s driver’s license, a bank statement from 2020, and the routing and account number for the applicant’s bank account.
Eley then created a false and fraudulent loan application. Eley falsely represented in the pertinent forms that the applicant had a sole proprietorship in the beauty industry that generated substantial income. Eley also submitted false financial numbers overstating the gross receipts, expenses, and net income for the business. This resulted in the creation of a false federal tax Form 1040, Schedule C, that was accepted and processed by the online portal handling the application. In instances where the applicant actually received a small income from beauty industry work, Eley knowingly and falsely inflated that income.
Once the loan was paid to the applicant, Eley charged some applicants up to $5,000.00 for preparing and submitting the fraudulent PPP application. Eley used this same scheme to file her own fraudulent application as well as the applications for at least seven (7) co-conspirators. This resulted in a loss to the Small Business Association of approximately $166,656.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Secret Service in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit, was in charge of the prosecution.
Related Federal Cases
- Siedah Eley, Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Louisiana 2023 · New York
- Tatiana Farook, Conspiracy to Commit Immigration Fraud, California … · Pennsylvania
- Deon O. Noel, Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud, Cincinnati OH, 2019 · Washington
- McKenzie Marie Earley, $10M Wire Fraud, C.D. California, 2023 · Pennsylvania
- Brendan Ross, Wire Fraud Scheme, California 2024 · Pennsylvania
Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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