Kisha Sutton, a 45-year-old resident of Jersey City, New Jersey, has been sentenced to two years in prison for her role in a scheme involving COVID-19 relief fraud and money laundering. The sentence, handed down on January 15, 2026, also includes five years of supervised release and an order to pay $184,014.04 in restitution.
A federal jury found Sutton guilty on July 15, 2025, after a two-day trial. Evidence presented showed that Sutton and her co-defendant Shamiese Wright collaborated to obtain a fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan of $15,625 under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The loan was guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA). As part of the scheme, Sutton received $3,000 from Wright out of the fraudulent proceeds.
According to court records, Sutton submitted the PPP loan application on April 19, 2021, claiming that Wright was self-employed with $75,000 in gross income for 2020. The application included an IRS Form 1040 Schedule C that falsely stated Wright's earnings. In reality, evidence showed that Wright was not self-employed and had never earned such an amount; she had received unemployment benefits in 2020 instead. The IRS form was fabricated solely for obtaining the PPP funds.
The approved loan resulted in $15,625 being deposited into Wright’s bank account in Charleston on May 7, 2021. Between May 7 and May 21 of that year, Wright transferred $3,000 to Sutton using a digital wallet app and attempted to hide the source and nature of these payments through misleading descriptions.
The CARES Act provided forgivable PPP loans to eligible sole proprietors and independent contractors affected by the pandemic. Applicants were required to show proof they were operating as of February 15, 2020 and document their previous gross income.
Sutton is among several individuals indicted for participating in a larger conspiracy led by her to secure fraudulent PPP loans totaling $140,625. While three other defendants—including Wright—pleaded guilty and were ordered to pay restitution totaling $65,611.73.
United States Attorney Moore Capito announced the sentencing and recognized the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), West Virginia State Police – Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), and West Virginia State Auditor’s Office Public Integrity and Fraud Unit (PIFU).
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan T. Storage and Jennifer D. Gordon along with former Assistant United States Attorney Holly Wilson prosecuted it.
“Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form,” according to authorities.
Additional information related to this case can be accessed through PACER by searching Case No. 2:24-cr-192.
