A Louisiana man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his involvement in a $1.1 million fraud scheme related to COVID-19 relief programs.
In conjunction with a fraudulent operation to receive loans under the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program totaling more than $1.1 million, Michael Ansezell Tolliver, 57, of Monroe, was sentenced to 10 years for money laundering, according to a May 2 news release.
“The significant sentence handed down today demonstrates that those who steal from COVID-19 relief programs for personal gain will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. said in the release. "We remain committed to rooting out bad actors who took advantage of federal programs meant to help those small businesses truly in need.”
Tolliver reportedly submitted nine false loan applications for the PPP and EIDL programs on behalf of a number of businesses he allegedly owned, including Tolliver Oil & Gas Corporation of Louisiana Inc. and Tolliver Petroleum Corporation of Louisiana, the release reported.
“This defendant stole over $1 million through fraudulent means and used those funds to support his own personal lifestyle, taking from those whose legitimate businesses were suffering from losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic," U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown, for the Western District of Louisiana, said in the release.
Tolliver lied on loan applications and supporting documentation, falsely stating that some of his companies employed more than 100 people, the release said. Additionally, he filed false federal tax returns.
"Federal programs such as these are set up to help those in need, not to benefit fraudsters," Brown added, according to the release. "It is a priority for our office to prosecute those who obtain these benefits illegally. We look forward to continued collaboration with the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section in aggressively investigating similar crimes related to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“Mr. Tolliver chose greed over compassion by fraudulently obtaining funds from the PPP and EIDL programs established to assist employers severely impacted by the pandemic," Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey, of the IRS Criminal Investigation Atlanta Field Office, said in the release. "Tolliver’s sentence today should stand as a warning to those who fraudulently received or may have attempted to fraudulently receive funds intended to help businesses during the COVID epidemic.”
