Slidell Man Pleads Guilty to SBA Scam for $147,400

NEW ORLEANS – In a brazen deception, 57-year-old Slidell resident Dean Meilleur has pleaded guilty to making false statements to the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), netting him $147,400 in disaster loans he wasn’t entitled to.

According to court documents, Meilleur submitted false writings and documents to the SBA to obtain Economic Impact Disaster Loans (EIDL), claiming to be the owner of a trucking business formed in 2017 and eligible for EIDL funds. But it was all a lie.

The SBA swallowed the bait, and Meilleur walked away with $147,400, money he had no right to. His scheme was exposed, and now he’ll face the music. Meilleur’s sentencing is set for September 17, 2024, and he’s looking at a maximum of five years in prison, plus up to three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

Meilleur’s also agreed to pay restitution to the SBA, with the exact amount to be determined by the court. The Department of Justice is serious about holding those accountable for COVID-19-related scams, and this is just the beginning.

U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans praised the Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their role in taking down Meilleur’s scheme. Assistant United States Attorney Andre J. Lagarde of the Public Integrity Unit is leading the prosecution.

If you’ve got information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19, don’t hesitate to call the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or file a complaint online at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. The Department’s got a war on COVID-19-related scams, and they need your help.

For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, check out https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Stay vigilant, and stay informed. Grimy Times will keep you updated on this and other cases of federal crime.