Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
A Louisiana woman has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty for her alleged role in a scheme to obtain millions of dollars in Paycheck Protection Program funds, according to a March 24 announcement by federal authorities.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by the Department of Justice and partner agencies to address fraud related to COVID-19 relief programs. Authorities say that fraudulent applications undermine the purpose of pandemic aid meant for struggling businesses.
Lisa Lemoine, 38, from Bossier City, Louisiana, faces one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. According to charging documents, Lemoine allegedly worked with Sniders Jean-Jacques, Lorne Johnson, Tanya Pierre, Ashley Spike and others beginning in March 2021. The group is accused of recruiting borrowers who were not eligible for PPP loans and submitting false applications on their behalf. Prosecutors allege that fake tax forms were created as part of the application process and that up to 30 percent of loan proceeds were collected as fees.
Borrowers who received PPP funds through these fraudulent applications allegedly paid kickbacks equal to about 30 percent of the loan amount back to Lemoine and her co-conspirators. Jean-Jacques, Johnson, Pierre and Spike have been charged separately with conspiracy related offenses connected with this scheme.
The charge carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison along with supervised release and financial penalties determined by federal guidelines. Sentencing will be decided by a district court judge at a later date; no plea hearing date has yet been set.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley said: "BOSTON – A Louisiana woman has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty to her alleged involvement in a multi-state scheme to obtain millions of dollars in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds for herself and others by submitting fraudulent applications to PPP lenders." The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation division, Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General Eastern Region, U.S. Secret Service Boston Field Office as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Kearney from the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit.
The Department of Justice established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force on May 17, 2021. The task force coordinates resources across government agencies aimed at preventing pandemic-related fraud through information sharing and targeted investigations into those responsible for abuse or misuse of relief programs.
Authorities remind members of the public that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
