A former Veterans Affairs nursing assistant, Wigenie Francois, was sentenced on March 9 in federal court in Boston for fraudulently obtaining a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan.
The case highlights ongoing efforts to address misuse of pandemic relief funds. Francois, 44, of Brockton, received one year of probation and was ordered to pay $62,499 in restitution after pleading guilty in December 2025 to one count of wire fraud. She had been charged in October 2025.
According to court documents, Francois submitted a PPP loan application in April 2021 that included false claims about gross income from a sole proprietorship and attached fraudulent tax documents. The application was approved and she received $20,833, which she used for personal expenses. In March 2024, Francois submitted a loan forgiveness application falsely stating the entire amount was spent on payroll; as a result, the loan was forgiven.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Northeast Field Office announced the sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Sullivan prosecuted the case.
The outcome underscores continued scrutiny over COVID-19 relief programs and enforcement actions against those who submit fraudulent applications.