North Carolina man sentenced for role in $1 million Covid fraud scheme

A man from Snow Hill, North Carolina, Tyreek Rasheed Exum, has been sentenced to 50 months in prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud related to Covid-19 relief loans. Exum was charged in March 2024 and pleaded guilty on September 24, 2024. His co-defendant, Anthony Wandland Jr. from Chicago, Illinois, also pleaded guilty to the same charge on November 13, 2024.

Exum and Wandland were accused of using over 20 stolen identities and those of co-conspirators to apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits. The indictment stated that Wandland supplied Exum with the stolen identities, and in return, Exum shared a portion of the proceeds with him. The loan applications submitted by Exum included false information about income, employment status, and business entities. Exum signed various financial documents using these stolen identities and directed the loan proceeds into his personal bank account as well as accounts belonging to family members, friends, and others whose identities were used.

Exum managed these accounts through bank debit cards and instructed nominees to transfer the fraudulent funds via digital platforms like PayPal and CashApp. He also withdrew cash at numerous ATMs. According to the indictment, nearly $1 million was acquired through these fraudulent activities. The court ordered Exum to pay over $620,000 in restitution.

The announcement was made by Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Labresh.

Further details about this case can be accessed on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or through PACER by searching Case Nos. 5:21CR178-M and 5:23CR388-M.