Amanda Clayborne-Williams was charged on June 3 with wire fraud and tax evasion, according to U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Clayborne-Williams, age 44, faces a two-count bill of information alleging that between April 2020 and January 2021 she submitted twelve false applications for loans through the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, seeking approximately $1.3 million in total. Authorities allege she received about $447,305.98 as a result of these applications and used the funds for personal expenses, including a mortgage payment on her residence.
In addition to the fraud charges, Clayborne-Williams is accused of attempting to evade income taxes by filing a false form with the Internal Revenue Service in November 2022 that understated her monthly income and assets.
If convicted of wire fraud, Clayborne-Williams could face up to twenty years in prison; if convicted of tax evasion, she could face up to five years in prison. Each count also carries up to three years supervised release and fines up to $250,000 per count. A mandatory special assessment fee of $100 applies for each count.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle said, “a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.” He praised the work of the Internal Revenue Service on this investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Maria M. Carboni is handling prosecution duties.