Wilmington Grifter Gets 80 Months for $9.1M COVID Loan Scam

WILMINGTON, DE – Jady Solano, 43, of Wilmington, Delaware, is headed to federal prison for 80 months after masterminding a brazen scheme to steal over $9.1 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. The former tax preparer didn’t just apply for loans; he fabricated an entire network of shell companies, none of which ever repaid a dime of the stolen funds.

According to court documents, Solano exploited his tax expertise to concoct fraudulent applications for the COVID-19 relief program, designed to keep workers employed during the pandemic. He claimed these phantom companies boasted substantial payrolls – some exceeding $1 million annually – all while knowing they were empty shells with no legitimate business operations or employees. False tax forms and fabricated bank statements were key components of his elaborate deception.

The scale of Solano’s greed is staggering. He submitted 62 fraudulent applications, resulting in over $9.1 million in illicit loan disbursements. He personally pocketed nearly $1.4 million, every penny of which he’s now ordered to repay to the federal government. This isn’t just a numbers game; it’s money that was meant to help real people keep food on the table during a crisis.

Solano isn’t the only one facing consequences. Seven other individuals have been charged in connection with the scheme. Shatoya Moss has already been sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay $578,133.09 in restitution. Carl Lawrence is awaiting a decision on a recommended guilty plea. Brigitte Miller-Levy, Amber Baldwin, Marvin Edwards, Anthony McKinzy, and Devlon Porter have all been indicted. Their case numbers are: 24-cr-91-2 (JLH), 24-cr-109-1 (JLH), 24-cr-109-2 (JLH), 24-cr-109-3 (JLH), 24-cr-109-4 (JLH), 24-cr-109-5 (JLH), and 24-cr-109-6 (JLH), respectively.

“The American taxpayers work hard for their money,” stated U.S. Attorney Julianne Murray. “And we will work hard to ensure that, when taxpayer money is misused—through waste, fraud, or abuse—the wrongdoers are brought to justice. Jady Solano led a nationwide scheme to steal more than $9 million from the federal government. Solano’s egregious misconduct warranted the substantial prison sentence the Court handed down today.” The IRS-Criminal Investigation and FBI Baltimore Field Office’s Wilmington Resident Agency spearheaded the investigation.

“62 times – over and over and over again – Solano fabricated, embellished and lied to steal millions from the government and ultimately, every taxpaying citizen,” added FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno. “Now he will pay for each of those lies with this lengthy sentence.” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace prosecuted the case. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the fates of Solano’s co-conspirators.