Four people were taken into custody in Las Vegas after police allege they committed COVID-19 relief loan fraud.
The four arrests were part of a larger coordinated law enforcement operation that resulted in the detention of seven people for alleged COVID fraud.
“Seven defendants are alleged to have exploited government-funded programs designed to provide Americans with emergency financial assistance to line their pockets,” said First Assistant US Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “Thanks to the outstanding investigative efforts by the FBI, SBA-OIG, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the North Las Vegas Police Department these defendants will now each have their day in court to face federal criminal fraud charges.”
According to the DOJ, Sheyland Juakeen Barnett, James Sean Freeman II, Tyrone Tatrice Johnson, and Nathan Jeffry Scott of Las Vegas all supplied fraudulent information and paperwork while applying for PPP and/or EIDL loans. Police say they received the monies to enrich themselves.
Barnett, Johnson, and Scott are all charged with one count of wire fraud, while Freeman faces two counts.
All four were arrested in Las Vegas on June 11.
If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison.
Leave a Comment