Two girls within the Atlanta metro space face federal costs after authorities mentioned they have been concerned in a scheme to steal thousands and thousands of {dollars} from the Paycheck Safety Program (P3P).

In response to a press release from the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace, Lakisha Swope, 43, of Alpharetta, and Treisha Pearson, 49, of Brookhaven, have been dropped at justice on costs of conspiracy, financial institution fraud, financial institution fraud and cash laundering after allegedly participated in a scheme to steal greater than $ 3.5 million from the PPP.

Swope, Pearson and others have allegedly submitted bogus PPP functions for a number of entities claiming greater than $ 5 million in loans, in line with the US lawyer’s workplace.

Their calls for distorted details about the entities’ whole variety of workers and common month-to-month payrolls, U.S. officers mentioned.

Because of these misrepresentations, lenders issued over $ 3.5 million in PPP loans to varied entities managed by Swope, Pearson and others. “Swope and Pearson, together with different members of the conspiracy, then allegedly used the fraudulently obtained funds for unauthorized bills, together with luxurious clothes, eating places, private rents, motels and trip leases,” in line with the press launch from the US lawyer’s workplace.

“Swope and Pearson are mentioned to have stolen thousands and thousands of {dollars} meant to assist small enterprise house owners,” Appearing US Lawyer Kurt R. Erskine mentioned for the Northern District of Georgia. “PPP {dollars} are sometimes a bridge for firms affected by the results of the pandemic. Nonetheless, PPP funds usually are not limitless and those that search to get wealthy fraudulently by this program can be prosecuted. “

“These two defendants are accused of misdirecting federal emergency help from firms that want it to remain afloat, in their very own pockets, throughout a pandemic,” mentioned Chris Hacker, particular agent accountable for the FBI Atlanta. “Their alleged greed impacts all residents who pay taxes and the FBI will do the whole lot doable to make sure that funds offered by packages like PPP are used as meant.”

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