Reagan T. Fondren Acting United States Attorney for the Western District Of Tennessee | U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee
Lisa Evans, a 43-year-old resident of Olive Branch, Mississippi, has been sentenced to federal prison for defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) of more than $5 million. The PPP was established to assist small businesses and their employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to information presented in court, Evans submitted fraudulent PPP loan applications on behalf of multiple individuals who were not eligible for these loans. The applications included false information and fake federal tax documents. After the funds were obtained, those individuals paid Evans kickbacks ranging from 20 to 30 percent. The total loss to the program was $5,126,258.
Evans received an 18-month prison sentence on September 11, 2025, from United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker. She will also serve three years of supervised release after her imprisonment and must pay $4,400,723 in restitution to the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The investigation involved several agencies: 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, the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Secret Service’s Memphis Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony R. Arvin prosecuted the case.
"Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today."
For further details or updates regarding this case or other office news, contact USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov or follow updates from the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or X at @WDTNNews.
