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Former Veterans Affairs Nursing Assistant Sentenced for Fraudulently Obtaining PPP Loan
BOSTON – In a brazen case of financial deceit, a former Veterans Affairs Nursing Assistant has been sentenced to a stint of probation and ordered to pay restitution for fraudulently obtaining a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan.
Wigenie Francois, 44, of Brockton, was handed down a one-year probation sentence by U.S. Senior District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV. Francois was also ordered to pay $62,499 in restitution.
According to prosecutors, Francois pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in December 2025, after initially being charged in October 2025. The crimes date back to April 2021, when Francois submitted a PPP loan application, making false claims regarding gross income purportedly earned from a sole proprietorship.
To support these false claims, Francois attached fraudulent tax documents as part of the application. The PPP loan application was approved, and Francois received $20,833. However, Francois used that money on personal expenses.
In March 2024, Francois submitted a loan forgiveness application that falsely claimed the entire $20,833 was spent on payroll. Based on the misrepresentation, the entire loan was forgiven.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Sullivan of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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