This is a press release detailing a criminal case involving a fraudulent Paycheck Protection Programme (PPP) loan obtained under the CARES Act. HereS a breakdown of the key details:
Defendant:
Name: Wright (first name not explicitly stated in the provided text, but implied to be the primary subject)
Crime: Fraudulent PPP loan application.
Guilty Plea: Wright pleaded guilty to the charges.
Admission: Wright admitted she was not self-employed, never earned $75,000, and the IRS Form 1040 submitted was fraudulent.
Loan Amount: $15,625 was deposited into her account. Payment to Co-defendant: Transferred $3,000 to Kisha Sutton for facilitating the application.
Concealment: Staggered payments and used misleading descriptions to hide the nature and source of the money. Use of Funds: Spent the remainder on personal expenses.
Sentencing: Scheduled for October 29, 2025.
Potential Penalties: Up to 20 years in prison,3 years supervised release,$500,000 fine,and up to $18,736.73 in restitution.
Co-defendants:
Kisha Sutton: Submitted the PPP loan application on wright’s behalf.
William Powell: Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Scheduled for sentencing on August 14, 2025.
Damisha Brown: Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Scheduled for sentencing on October 2, 2025.
Jasmine Spencer: Pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting bank fraud on March 25, 2025. Scheduled for sentencing on August 21, 2025.
Overall Scheme:
Wright and Sutton are part of a larger group indicted for conspiring and aiding/abetting each other to obtain fraudulent PPP loans totaling $140,625.
PPP Loan Program:
The CARES Act provided forgivable PPP loans to sole proprietors,independent contractors,and self-employed individuals impacted by COVID-19. Requirements included being in operation on February 15,2020,and providing documentation of prior gross income.
Authorities Involved:
Acting United States Attorney: Lisa G. Johnston
Investigative Agencies: Federal Bureau of Examination (FBI), West Virginia State Police – Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), West Virginia State Auditor’s Office (WVSAO) Public Integrity and Fraud Unit (PIFU). Presiding Judge: United States District Judge irene C. Berger
Prosecutors: Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan T.Storage and Jennifer D. Gordon,and former Assistant United States attorney Holly Wilson.
Call to Action:
Individuals with information about COVID-19 fraud are encouraged to report it to the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline or through their web complaint form.
In essence, this press release announces the guilty plea of an individual who defrauded the PPP loan program by submitting a false application, and it highlights the broader investigation into a conspiracy involving multiple individuals.
