Shannon T. Hanson Acting United States Attorney for the District of Delaware | U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware
Marcus Evans, Inc., a Delaware-based company, has agreed to pay more than $2.8 million to resolve allegations that it improperly obtained a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), according to an announcement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware.
The PPP was established in March 2020 as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to help small businesses retain employees and manage expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligibility required companies to certify they had no more than 300 employees, including those of domestic and foreign affiliates.
Marcus Evans is part of a larger business group that organizes conferences, professional training sessions, and business summits worldwide. On March 17, 2021, Marcus Evans applied for and received a $1.8 million PPP loan after certifying it had fewer than 300 employees with its affiliates. The company later received full forgiveness for this loan from the Small Business Administration (SBA). Authorities say Marcus Evans was not eligible for the loan because it actually employed more than 300 people when affiliates were included.
U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace announced the settlement: “Marcus Evans, Inc., a Delaware corporation, has agreed to pay $2,857,081.33 to resolve allegations that it improperly obtained a Paycheck Protection Program (‘PPP’) loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (‘SBA’) for which it was not eligible.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Laksin managed the case with support from Christopher J. McClintock of the SBA.
The agreement resolves claims under the False Claims Act’s whistleblower provisions, which allow private individuals—called relators—to bring actions on behalf of the United States and receive part of any recovery. In this instance, the relator will get a portion of the settlement.
Officials encourage anyone with information about COVID-19 fraud to contact the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or submit information through its web complaint form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The settlement resolves civil claims only; there has been no finding or admission of liability by Marcus Evans.
