CARES Act Fraudster Sentenced to Five Years of Probation

Strategic Insights -

DENT HUNTER, 46, of New Orleans, was sentenced to five years of probation after pleading guilty to making false statements and money laundering related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The case involves HUNTER's attempt to obtain a $122,100 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan by making false statements to an approved lender. The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit, with the help of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Office of Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation.

Key Takeaways:

  • DENT HUNTER, 46, of New Orleans, was sentenced to five years of probation for making false statements and money laundering related to the CARES Act.
  • HUNTER pleaded guilty to making false statements to an approved lender to obtain a $122,100 PPP loan on April 6, 2020.
  • He also stole $149,900 from the Small Business Administration (SBA) by using an application in the name of NexLevel ONE Realty on July 22, 2020.
  • HUNTER committed two counts of money laundering by using the ill-gotten funds to buy two motor vehicles for family members.
  • He was ordered to pay approximately $1 million in restitution to the SBA and conduct 400 hours of community service.
  • The case was investigated by an agent assigned to the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Fraud Task Force.

Statistics:

  • $122,100: The amount of the PPP loan HUNTER attempted to obtain by making false statements.
  • $149,900: The amount of money HUNTER stole from the SBA.
  • $1 million: The amount of restitution HUNTER was ordered to pay to the SBA.
  • 400 hours: The number of hours of community service HUNTER was ordered to conduct.
  • $200: The amount of the mandatory special assessment fee HUNTER was ordered to pay.

Sources:

  • Acting U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana
  • Press release dated July 8, 2025
  • CARES Act, signed into law on March 27, 2020
  • Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
  • Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) program
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
  • Department of Justice's response to the pandemic
  • Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Fraud Task Force
  • National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline
  • NCDF Web Complaint Form