⏱ 2 min read
A couple from Southfield, Michigan, swindled taxpayers out of $1.2 million in a brazen Paycheck Protection Program scam during the COVID-19 pandemic. Catherine Spidell-Ferguson and her husband D’Angelo Ferguson pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme.
The Fergusons submitted fake loan applications to the PPP, claiming each company had a certain amount of monthly income and payroll expenses. But it was all a ruse, with the number of employees and payroll expenses entirely fabricated. The supporting documents were also phony.
Catherine Spidell-Ferguson admitted to participating in the submission of one of the bogus loan applications, while her husband admitted to submitting three separate applications.
“Fraud is a plague on our Nation. It takes many forms—and all of them weaken our economy and steal from the American taxpayer,” said United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Michigan
- Location: MI
- Source: DOJ Press Release
