Mississippi woman pleads guilty in $5M COVID-19 relief fraud case

A Mississippi woman has admitted to defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) of more than $5 million. Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced that Lisa Evans, 42, from Olive Branch, Mississippi, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Evans entered her plea on February 20, 2025, before United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker. She is scheduled for sentencing on May 22, 2025, and could face up to 20 years in federal prison. The federal system does not offer parole.

Court documents revealed that Evans submitted fraudulent PPP loan applications on behalf of individuals who were not eligible for these loans. These applications included false statements and fabricated federal tax documents. After receiving the PPP funds, borrowers paid Evans kickbacks ranging from 20 to 30 percent. The total loss incurred by the PPP program amounted to $5,126,258.

Fondren stated: “Individuals cheating the Paycheck Protection Program stole money from U.S. taxpayers who desperately needed these loans to keep their small businesses afloat and pay their employees during the COVID-19 pandemic." He acknowledged the efforts of several federal law enforcement agencies in uncovering this fraud and bringing Evans to justice: "I would especially like to commend and thank the federal law enforcement agencies who uncovered this fraud and brought this defendant to justice."

The involved agencies include the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General; the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General; the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Gulf States Field Division; the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General; the U.S. Secret Service Memphis Field Office; and the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee.

Fondren also expressed gratitude towards Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Arvin for prosecuting this case.