CHARLESTON, W.Va. – In a stunning admission, Tiffany Bowlin, 33, of Charleston, pleaded guilty to a fraudulent scheme involving $20,833 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, a vital lifeline intended for businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bowlin falsely portrayed her ‘Tiffany Bowlin’ hair salon as an established business since 2019, when it was actually non-existent. She claimed the salon had substantial income, leading to the approval of the PPP loan application submitted on April 27, 2021. The SBA approved the fraudulent claim and transferred the funds to Bowlin’s personal bank account.
The CARES Act, a cornerstone of the federal government’s response to the pandemic, provided forgivable loans for small businesses like those eligible for PPP. Bowlin misused the funds personally, ignoring the program’s intent to support business operations and employee retention.
On March 2, 2022, despite not using the loan for permissible expenses, Bowlin applied for forgiveness. The SBA approved her request in early March 2022. Bowlin now faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson announced the guilty plea, praising the work of the West Virginia State Police-Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their diligent efforts. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Blackwell is handling the prosecution.
Established by the Attorney General in May 2021, the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force has been instrumental in combating fraud during the pandemic. Anyone with information about such schemes can report it to the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud at 866-720-5721 or through their web complaint form.
RELATED: Charleston Woman Pleads Guilty to $20K PPP Fraud
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Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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