St. Louis Man Gets 27 Months for $629K Pandemic Heist

ST. LOUIS – Shahron Vaulx, 41, of St. Louis is heading to federal prison for nearly three years after admitting to a brazen scheme to steal over $629,000 in pandemic relief funds. U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark handed down the 27-month sentence Wednesday, along with an order for full restitution.

Vaulx wasn’t helping struggling businesses; he was lining his own pockets. Between May 2020 and June 2021, he filed eight fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, using shell companies like Fortunnett Financial LLC, SD Incorporation LLC, SV Collections LLC and SD Marketing LLC. The applications were riddled with lies about payroll and employee numbers, bolstered by phony tax documents designed to inflate the loan amounts.

The cash didn’t go to legitimate business expenses. Once approved, Vaulx didn’t invest in the companies – he cashed out, transferred funds to associates, splurged on retail purchases, and paid personal bills. Then, adding insult to injury, he applied for loan forgiveness, falsely claiming the money *had* been used for permissible business costs. The sentencing memo didn’t pull punches: “The only explanation for (Vaulx’) crime is greed.”

Court documents reveal Vaulx wasn’t hurting for cash when he committed the fraud. He boasted a substantial positive monthly cash flow and a gross monthly income of $25,000 at the time, making the scheme even more egregious. Judge Clark ordered Vaulx to repay the full $629,809 he illegally obtained.

“This case highlights the United States Secret Service’s commitment to aggressively target individuals who have taken advantage of federal pandemic programs,” stated Special Agent in Charge Travis Gibson of the U.S. Secret Service – St. Louis Field Office. The Secret Service led the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gwen Carroll and Stephen Casey handling the prosecution.

Vaulx pleaded guilty in January to two counts of wire fraud. He’ll have plenty of time to consider his choices while serving his sentence. This isn’t just about stolen money; it’s about betraying the trust placed in these programs during a time of national crisis. Another one bites the dust.