Four people have been charged in connection with an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain approximately $7 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds. The individuals indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud are Sniders Jean-Jacques, 38, of Miami; Lorne Johnson, 38, of Boston; Tanya Pierre, 28, of Miami; and Ashley Spike, 31, of Miramar, Florida.
Authorities say that Jean-Jacques and Pierre were arrested and appeared in federal court in Miami. Johnson was arrested and appeared in federal court in Boston. Spike was arrested and appeared in federal court in Fort Lauderdale. All four are expected to appear at a later date in federal court in Boston.
According to the indictment, the defendants allegedly submitted fraudulent PPP applications for borrowers who were not eligible for such loans. They reportedly collected up to 30 percent of the loan proceeds as a fee for securing the loans. Beginning in March 2021, it is alleged that they recruited borrowers who did not qualify for PPP funds by claiming these individuals operated businesses that met eligibility requirements and creating false tax documents to support their applications. The indictment states that both the defendants and borrowers received PPP funds they were not entitled to receive. Borrowers then paid kickbacks equal to about 30 percent of their loan amounts back to the defendants.
Jean-Jacques and Pierre face additional charges related to a separate scheme involving conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud connected with mortgage loans and apartment leases.
If convicted on the charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the scheme—whichever is greater. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge according to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley stated: “The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.” Thomas Demeo (Special Agent in Charge at IRS Criminal Investigation’s Boston Field Office), Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite (Special Agent in Charge at SBA Office of Inspector General’s Eastern Region), and Randy Maloney (Special Agent in Charge at U.S. Secret Service’s Boston Field Office) also participated in announcing these charges.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Kearney from the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit.
In May 2021, the Department of Justice established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force aimed at enhancing efforts against pandemic-related fraud by improving coordination among agencies and sharing investigative resources (https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus).
Anyone with information about attempted COVID-19-related fraud can contact authorities through the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or submit information online (https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form).