Michigan Man Sentenced to 70 Months in PPP Fraud Scheme That Obtained About $9.1 Million
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Delaware announced that Carl Lawrence, 50, of Kentwood, Michigan, was sentenced on October 20 to 70 months in federal prison for his role in a scheme to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Hall imposed the sentence in Wilmington, Delaware.
According to court documents, Lawrence ran a business-consulting firm. Over the internet he met Jady Solano, a Wilmington tax preparer, and the two conspired to defraud the PPP, a COVID-19 relief program designed to safeguard jobs during the pandemic. Lawrence referred his consulting clients to Solano, who prepared fraudulent applications on their behalf, and Lawrence also personally falsified documents for inclusion in the applications.
In total, Lawrence assisted with 29 fraudulent applications, resulting in more than $4.7 million in wrongful loan disbursements. He personally made nearly $450,000 through the scheme, all of which he has been ordered to forfeit. The total scheme led by Lawrence and Solano obtained approximately $9.1 million in pandemic relief funds. The court also ordered restitution of $4,736,088.37 and a forfeiture money judgment of $447,061.77, and Lawrence will serve three years of supervised release after prison.
Across two charging instruments, eight members of the scheme have been charged: Solano was sentenced to 80 months in prison and restitution of $9,181,830.99; Shatoya Moss to 18 months; Brigette Miller-Levy to 24 months; Marvin Edwards to 16 months; Amber Baldwin and Devlon Porter were convicted at trial and await sentencing; Anthony McKinzy has been indicted and remains at large. A defendant who has been indicted and not adjudicated guilty is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
'Stealing taxpayer money is always a serious crime,' said U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace. 'But it is particularly serious when that money was meant to keep hardworking Americans employed during a pandemic.' FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul said Lawrence thought he could dupe the federal government and swindle American taxpayers, and that every dollar he stole will be forfeited. IRS Criminal Investigation Philadelphia Field Office Special Agent in Charge Yury Kruty said the sentencing holds Lawrence accountable.
Agents of IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI Baltimore Field Office's Wilmington Resident Agency investigated the case. U.S. Attorney Wallace and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan C. Williamson prosecuted the case.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 特拉华州 Wilmington 市景，该案联邦法院所在地（资料图）。Quintinsoloviev 摄，CC BY 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons 取用 / Wilmington, Delaware, where the case was heard in federal court (file photo). Photo by Quintinsoloviev, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
