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Fraud

COVID-19 Relief Program Fraudsters Arraigned on Federal Charges

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia announced that Salimot Akande, Garey Henderson, and Jacqueline Rollizo were arraigned on federal fraud and money laundering charges for allegedly defrauding COVID-19 pandemic relief programs. The defendants allegedly obtained approximately $1.6 million in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loans and laundered nearly $2 million in proceeds. The government created programs to provide critical relief to small businesses during the pandemic, but the defendants exploited these programs for personal gain, stealing from taxpayers and legitimate business owners who desperately needed help.

Key Takeaways:

  • Salimot Akande, Garey Henderson, and Jacqueline Rollizo were arraigned on federal fraud and money laundering charges for allegedly defrauding COVID-19 pandemic relief programs.
  • The defendants allegedly obtained approximately $1.6 million in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loans and laundered nearly $2 million in proceeds.
  • The indictment alleges that the defendants submitted fabricated tax filings and loan applications containing false information to obtain the loans.
  • Akande and Henderson allegedly obtained fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) for their businesses, totaling $348,700.
  • The defendants moved the funds through multiple bank accounts to conceal the true source and control of the money.
  • The indictment charges the defendants with bank fraud, wire fraud, bank and wire fraud conspiracy, concealment and transactional money laundering, and money laundering conspiracy.
  • The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with Assistant United States Attorney Sarah E. Klapman prosecuting the case.
  • The COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force was established on May 17, 2021, to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud.

Statistics:

  • The defendants allegedly obtained approximately $1.6 million in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loans.
  • The indictment alleges that the defendants laundered nearly $2 million in proceeds.
  • The government charges the defendants with 38 counts of bank fraud, wire fraud, bank and wire fraud conspiracy, concealment and transactional money laundering, and money laundering conspiracy.
  • The COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force was established on May 17, 2021, to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud.

Sources:

  • United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia
  • Theodore S. Hertzberg, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia
  • Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama
  • Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta
  • United States Attorney Hertzberg's statement on May 17, 2021
  • https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus
  • https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form
  • http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga

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