Jennifer May, a 43-year-old resident of the District of Columbia, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to over 12 months in federal prison for her involvement in a scheme that defrauded the U.S. Government of $1.5 million through Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL). The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
May pleaded guilty on August 27, 2025, to one count of wire fraud. Judge Christopher R. Cooper also ordered May to serve three years of supervised release and to repay the full $1.5 million as part of her plea agreement.
The case involved collaboration between several agencies, including Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (CI), Washington, D.C. Field Office, and Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Washington Division.
Court documents state that May founded Next Level Partners LLC, a consulting firm assisting political campaigns with campaign finance compliance and accounts payable management.
In October 2021, May sought an additional $1.5 million EIDL loan for her business by submitting a second modification request to her original application.
The EIDL program was established by the U.S. Small Business Administration during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide low-interest loans for small businesses facing financial difficulties due to the crisis. The loans were meant for essential business expenses such as payroll and rent or mortgage payments.
May falsely certified on loan applications that she would use all proceeds solely for business purposes related to Next Level Partners LLC operations. However, after receiving the funds from the SBA, she transferred large sums into personal accounts and then used them on cryptocurrency speculation involving an asset called “Tomb.” After incurring significant losses from these investments, May used remaining funds to purchase real estate in Middleburg, Virginia and acquire a restaurant-bar-childcare venue known as The Lane at Ivy City in Northeast Washington—expenditures unrelated to her company's activities.
The investigation was conducted by agents from both the IRS-Criminal Investigations and U.S. Postal Inspection Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Hart from the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section.
"May pleaded guilty on Aug. 27, 2025, to an Information charging her with one count of wire fraud. In addition to the more than 12-month term of incarceration, Judge Christopher R. Cooper ordered May to serve three years of supervised release. Under the terms of her plea agreement, May also must return the $1,500,000 to the United States."
