Seminole County Resident Pleads Guilty To Wire Fraud In Payroll Protection Program Scheme

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that William Chad Heard, a/k/a William C. Heard, a/k/a William Heard, age 45, of Konawa, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Wire Fraud, punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

The Indictment alleged that from in or about April 2020, and continuing through in or about August 2021, Heard electronically submitted false and fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications, created false payroll records and IRS tax reporting forms, and included the records and forms in PPP loan applications on behalf of himself, others, and existing and non-existing businesses.  The fraudulent PPP loan applications were submitted to the Small Business Association (SBA) and to lenders inside and outside the State of Oklahoma.  Heard also used personal identifying information of other persons to apply for and receive PPP loans.  In total, Heard’s fraudulent loan applications resulted in more than $350,000 in loan proceeds being paid out.

The charge arose from an investigation by IRS-Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics.

On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.

A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Heard will remain free on bond with conditions of release pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.