Brandie S. Williams of Dallas, Texas, and Brittany L. Herbert of Brandywine, Maryland, have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud in federal court in Buffalo, New York. The charges are related to fraudulent activity involving COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) emergency relief loans. U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced the pleas before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
According to prosecutors, between May 2020 and June 2021, Williams and Herbert worked with Adam Arena and Amanda Gloria to secure PPP loans using false information for their businesses and personal gain. "Williams, Herbert, and Gloria worked together to fraudulently obtain an approximately $292,700 loan for Williams’s business, Beyond the Next Level, Inc., including by, among other things, preparing and submitting a fraudulent IRS tax form as part of the PPP loan application, which falsely stated that Williams’s business had 25 employees and paid total payroll expenses of $1.4 million in 2019 when, in fact, the business had no employees," prosecutors said.
After receiving these funds intended for pandemic relief support for small businesses’ payrolls and operations costs the Justice Department has outlined how such programs were designed, Williams instead used them for personal enrichment. Over $43,000 was transferred from her account to accounts controlled by Gloria and Herbert.
In another instance described by authorities: "Williams, Herbert, Gloria, and Arena also worked together to fraudulently obtain a loan for approximately $954,000 for Arena's business ADA Auto Group. After the PPP loan proceeds were transferred into an account controlled by Arena he conducted a series of financial transactions including for his own personal benefit for Gloria's benefit and for the benefit of others." Adam Arena and Amanda Gloria have previously been convicted in connection with this scheme.
Herbert also pleaded guilty separately to bank fraud.
The investigation involved multiple agencies: the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division; United States Postal Inspection Service; and Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 11, 2026 (Williams), and July 8, 2026 (Herbert), both before Judge Sinatra. The offenses carry a maximum penalty of up to 30 years imprisonment and a fine up to $1 million.
Members of the public can report suspected COVID-19 relief fraud via phone or online through resources provided by the Justice Department.
