Johnny Narcisse and his cousin Johnson Dieujuste have been sentenced to prison for defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program of over $2 million. Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. stated, "These defendants brazenly stole funds from programs designed to help individuals and businesses suffering during the COVID-19 pandemic."

The investigation began in July 2021 when federal agents searched Johnny Narcisse's home in Georgia, uncovering evidence of a conspiracy with Johnson Dieujuste. They recruited small business owners to file fraudulent COVID-19 relief loan applications, fabricating information needed for approval. Approved loans resulted in borrowers kicking back a portion of the proceeds to Narcisse and Dieujuste.

Narcisse, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Eleanor L. Ross to two years and four months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He must also pay restitution of $2,000,332 after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud on October 21, 2024.

Dieujuste, 37, received a sentence of two years and eight months in prison followed by three years of supervised release from Judge Ross on January 8, 2025. He was ordered to pay restitution totaling $2,081,559 after pleading guilty on September 24, 2024.

Both men also filed fraudulent COVID-19 loans for themselves independently. The losses from these actions were included in their restitution orders.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and Small Business Administration's Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S Attorney Alana R. Black and Trial Attorneys Jennifer Bilinkas and David A. Peters from the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.

The Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force on May 17, 2021, to enhance efforts against pandemic-related fraud by investigating domestic and international criminal actors involved in such schemes.

For more information about reporting attempted fraud related to COVID-19 relief programs or other inquiries, contact details are provided through various channels including phone hotlines and online forms managed by the Department of Justice.