LaPlace Man Pleads Guilty to Falsifying Documentation Related to SBA Disaster Loan

NEW ORLEANS -  U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced today that KEITH CRAIG (“CRAIG”), age 58, of LaPlace, pled guilty on October 22, 2019 to falsifying documents related to a federal Small Business Administration (SBA) loan, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001 before United States District Court Judge Greg G. Guidry.

According to court documents, the defendant applied for an SBA loan after Hurricane Isaac impacted Louisiana in 2012.  CRAIG owned a residence in LaPlace, Louisiana and applied for and received approximately $160,000 SBA loan proceeds to repair damages to his residence allegedly caused by Hurricane Isaac.  In support of the SBA loan, CRAIG submitted fraudulent documentation and statements related to his annual income and the repairs performed on his LaPlace residence. 

The Court set sentencing in this matter for January 28, 2020.  CRAIG faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five (5) years, a maximum $250,000 fine, up to three (3) years supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 special assessment fee.

U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Office of Inspector General for the Small Business Administration on investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney Duane A. Evans is prosecuting the case.