Maryland Resident Charged with Preparing and Submitting Fraudulent Applications for Cares Act Financial Assistance

NEW ORLEANS –  U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that MARCEL GAVIN, age 36, a resident of Odenton, Maryland, was indicted today  for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371 (Count One), and wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343 (Count Two), for his role in preparing and filing false applications for loans related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). 

According to the indictment, between about April 19, 2021, and May 20, 2021, GAVIN, his significant other (Shaniqua Wilson), and a third individual, Siedah Eley, recruited friends and family members, primarily via word of mouth and text message, to participate in a scheme to fraudulently obtain money from Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans with her assistance.  They then created and electronically submitted  loan applications, that falsely claimed that each  applicant had a sole proprietorship in the beauty industry that generated substantial income from such business.  GAVIN, Wilson, and Eley charged some of the applicants she recruited up to approximately $5,000.00, once the PPP loan was funded.  Among the individuals for whom they filed a false PPP application was a resident of Metairie, Louisiana, who was then employed with a City of New Orleans agency.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Secret Service in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit, is in charge of the prosecution.