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Fraud

Attorney General Raoul Recovers Restitution from Former State Employee Who Pleaded Guilty to PPP Loan Fraud

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Attorney General Kwame Raoul's office has obtained a guilty plea and restitution from Alicia Pernell, a former state government employee who fraudulently applied for and received a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan totaling approximately $20,000. Pernell, 36, of Joliet, Illinois, pleaded guilty to one count of theft by deception, a Class 2 felony, and was ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution in addition to the $5,000 she had already paid upfront. This plea is part of Attorney General Raoul's ongoing efforts to hold individuals accountable for fraudulently collecting government assistance related to the pandemic.

Key Takeaways:

  • Alicia Pernell, a 36-year-old former state government employee, pleaded guilty to one count of theft by deception, a Class 2 felony, for fraudulently applying for and receiving a $20,000 PPP loan.
  • Pernell was employed by the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) at the time of the alleged offense and used the business name "Alicia Pernell" to obtain the loan.
  • Attorney General Raoul's Public Integrity Bureau, led by Assistant Attorney General Tim Nimrod, prosecuted the case.
  • Pernell was ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution in addition to the $5,000 she had already paid upfront, with Will County Circuit Court Judge Jessica Colon-Sayre ordering her to pay the remainder in $625 monthly installments and to complete two years of second chance probation.
  • This plea is the most recent action taken by Attorney General Raoul to hold individuals accountable for PPP loan fraud.
  • Raoul's office has prosecuted a number of individuals for PPP loan fraud and referred other investigations to the appropriate state's attorneys for further evaluation.

Statistics:

  • $20,000: The approximate amount of the PPP loan fraudulently obtained by Pernell.
  • $5,000: The amount of restitution Pernell paid upfront.
  • $15,000: The amount of additional restitution Pernell was ordered to pay.
  • $625: The monthly installment amount Pernell was ordered to pay in restitution.
  • 2 years: The length of second chance probation Pernell was ordered to serve.

Sources:

  • Illinois Attorney General, "Attorney General Raoul Recovers Restitution from Former State Employee Who Pleased Guilty to PPP Loan Fraud" (https://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/news/story/attorney-general-raoul-recovers-restitution-from-former-state-employee-who-pleaded-guilty-to-ppp-loan-fraud-2)

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