After a two-day trial, a federal jury has convicted Kisha Sutton, 44, from Jersey City, New Jersey, on charges of aiding and abetting bank fraud and laundering of monetary instruments. The verdict was reached on July 15, 2025.
Evidence presented during the trial demonstrated that Sutton collaborated with co-defendant Shamiese Wright to secure a fraudulent $15,625 Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loan for Wright. This loan was guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the CARES Act. As part of their scheme, Sutton received $3,000 from the fraudulent loan proceeds.
The court heard that on April 19, 2021, Sutton submitted a PPP loan application for Wright, falsely claiming she was self-employed with a gross income of $75,000 in 2020. An IRS Form 1040 accompanied the application but was found to be fraudulent. The funds were deposited into Wright's account in Charleston in May 2021. Subsequently, Wright transferred $3,000 to Sutton using a digital wallet application while attempting to conceal the nature of these transactions.
The CARES Act provided forgivable loans to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants needed to prove their operational status as of February 15, 2020.
Sutton is set for sentencing on November 13, 2025. She faces up to 50 years in prison and owes restitution yet to be determined by the court.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston commented: “The CARES Act offered emergency assistance to struggling small businesses that were impacted by the pandemic. The defendant chose to exploit that lifeline for personal enrichment.” She praised law enforcement partners for their role in holding Sutton accountable.
Several others involved in similar schemes have also been indicted or pleaded guilty. These include Shamiese Wright and other individuals charged with conspiracy and aiding bank fraud activities related to PPP loans totaling $140,625.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the trial with Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan T. Storage and Jennifer D. Gordon prosecuting the case.
Reports of COVID-19-related fraud can be made through the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline or its web complaint form.
