April Elick, a resident of Bluefield, West Virginia, has pleaded guilty to charges related to the theft of government money. Elick obtained $84,000 in COVID-19 relief loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the CARES Act and used the funds for personal expenses.
Court documents reveal that Elick secured two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling $14,520 in April 2021. She claimed these funds were intended for her home healthcare business to cover payroll and other expenses. Additionally, she received a $61,000 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) in January 2022 and later increased this loan by $8,700 in April 2022.
In her guilty plea, Elick acknowledged that she was aware of the specific uses allowed for these loan proceeds but instead spent them on personal items. This included approximately $30,560 in cash withdrawals, around $16,350 in digital wallet transfers, and purchases amounting to $8,290.11 across West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina.
The CARES Act provided forgivable PPP loans to eligible businesses affected by the pandemic and authorized SBA's EIDL program loans up to $2 million for small businesses facing financial disruption.
Elick is set for sentencing on September 8, 2025. She faces a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment along with supervised release up to three years and a fine reaching $250,000. Restitution owed amounts to $97,802.59.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston praised efforts by WorkForce West Virginia Integrity Section; NASA Office of Inspector General; Litigation Financial Analyst at U.S Attorney’s Office; West Virginia State Police – Bureau Criminal Investigation (BCI).
NASA OIG is part of Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Fraud Task Force aimed at ensuring transparency during federal COVID-19 response efforts through coordinated oversight across agencies identifying risks crossing boundaries preventing fraud or mismanagement within more than five trillion dollars worth pandemic spending including both PPP & EIDL programs backed further via PRAC’s Pandemic Analytics Center applying advanced analytic technologies supporting law enforcement data-driven investigations into relief fraud cases like this one prosecuted here today before Senior United States District Judge David A Faber assisted ably throughout process so far successfully handled entirely without incident whatsoever till now quite remarkably indeed really overall considering everything involved thus far altogether conclusively finally done properly correctly every step way until very end thankfully enough already!
Individuals with knowledge about fraudulent activities involving COVID-19 can report such incidents through Department Justice National Center Disaster Fraud Hotline: call toll-free number provided below alternatively submit online form available official website link shared here too additionally just case anyone needs access it urgently right away immediately possible still anytime soon eventually perhaps hopefully sooner better though preferably ideally speaking realistically anyways...
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Southern District West Virginia where related court documents information found easily using PACER search function Case No:1:25-cr-56
