Wilson Pershing Stevenson, COVID-19 Relief Funding Fraud, Washington 2020

Richland, Washington – In a shocking case of pandemic-era greed, Wilson Pershing Stevenson III, a 44-year-old businessman from Nashville, Tennessee, has been accused of stealing over $1.4 million in COVID-19 relief funding intended for struggling businesses in Eastern Washington.

According to a grand jury indictment, Stevenson, through his company BNL Technical Services, LLC, submitted false claims to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. These programs, established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, were designed to provide financial assistance to small businesses affected by the pandemic.

Prosecutors allege that Stevenson’s company continued to receive payments for work that was not being performed, with many employees teleworking or simply on standby during the pandemic. Despite this, Stevenson submitted false claims to the PPP and EIDL programs, seeking over $1.3 million in funding for his employees.

The indictment charges Stevenson with eleven counts of fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 relief funding. If convicted, he faces significant prison time and fines.

The COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force, created in 2022 to combat pandemic-related fraud in Eastern Washington, has been instrumental in uncovering this case. The Strike Force consists of representatives from various federal agencies, including the FBI, the Small Business Administration’s Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Inspector General for Tax Administration.

BNL Technical Services, LLC, a subcontractor at the Hanford Site, has also been charged in the indictment. The company’s owners and employees continue to face scrutiny as the investigation unfolds.

As the pandemic recedes, authorities are working to recover lost funds and hold accountable those who exploited the system. In this case, the indictment sends a clear message: those who engage in pandemic-era profiteering will face the full force of the law.

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