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

NEW ORLEANS –  SIEDAH ELEY, age 30,  a former resident of Columbia, Maryland, was charged on May 1, 2023 in a one-count bill of information with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371 and 1343, for her role in preparing and filing false applications for loans related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. 

According to the bill of information, 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.  She then electronically created and submitted loan applications, falsely stating that the applicant had a sole proprietorship in the beauty industry that generated substantial income.  ELEY charged some applicants up to approximately $5,000.00 once the PPP loan was funded.

ELEY faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five (5) years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt

For more information on the Department of Justice’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.  Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

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.