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

NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that SHANIQUA PAGE WILSON (“WILSON”), age 33, a resident of Laurel, Maryland, was sentenced on April 24, 2024, by United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo to four years of probation after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371 and 1343. The charges stem from WILSON’s role in preparing and filing false applications for loans related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Judge Milazzo also ordered WILSON to pay $104,160 in victim restitution to the Small Business Administration as well as a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

According to court documents, between about April 19, 2021, and May 20, 2021, WILSON and Co-Conspirator 1, recruited friends and family, primarily via word of mouth and text message to join their fraudulent scheme to obtain money from Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. WILSON and Co-Conspirator 1 then created and electronically submitted loan applications. These loan applications falsely stated that the applicant had a sole proprietorship in the beauty industry that generated substantial income. Co-conspirator 1 charged some applicants up to approximately $5,000.00 once the PPP loan was funded. Co-conspirator 1 was indicted separately for his role in the offense in September 2023; his matter remains pending.

Between about May 4, 2021, and May 5, 2021, WILSON and Co-conspirator 1 prepared and submitted approximately five (5) fraudulent PPP loan applications, including for themselves and their relatives, that resulted in an approximate loss of $104,160 to the United States Small Business Administration and other designated financial institutions. Among the individuals for whom WILSON and Co-conspirator 1 prepared and filed false PPP applications was Co-Conspirator 5, a resident of Metairie, Louisiana who was then employed by a City of New Orleans agency.