Southwest Georgia Man Found Guilty at Trial of Pandemic Wire Fraud Scheme

ALBANY, Ga. – A Southwest Georgia resident was found guilty at trial this week of wire fraud resulting from a larger pandemic fraud scheme involving family members.

Tyreek Brown, 28, of Pelham, Georgia, was found guilty of one count of wire fraud on Aug. 12 following a two-day trial that began on Aug. 11. Brown is facing a maximum of 30 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine. His sentencing hearing will be scheduled by the Court.

Brown’s two codefendants previously entered guilty pleas in this case, and will be sentenced on Nov. 12:

Sherronica Jackson, 38, of Pelham, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud on July 29, and faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and a $1 million fine; and

Alan Brown, 52, of Pelham, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud on July 16, and faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and a $1 million fine.

Chief U.S. District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner is presiding over the case. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Our office will pursue justice for these types of criminal schemes that deliberately defraud taxpayers,” stated U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “I thank our law enforcement and prosecutorial team for holding those responsible accountable.”

According to court documents and statements referenced in Court, Sheronica Jackson applied for and obtained a United States Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan in March 2021, a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll during the historic COVID-19 outbreak as part of the federal CARES Act, which was signed into law to address the pandemic. Jackson claimed a gross income for 2019 of $97,000, which she did not earn. She also did not identify a business by name or category on the application. She received a $20,207 loan on March 31, 2021.

Jackson then assisted her stepfather, Alan Brown, and her stepbrother, Tyreek Brown, in obtaining fraudulent PPP loans. Alan Brown falsely claimed loans for a non-existent contracting business, claiming a gross income in 2019 of $101,005, which he did not earn, nor did he have any professional licenses, business affiliations or employment information. Both loans were approved and awarded on April 19, 2021, and May 16, 2021, totaling $20,833. Tyreek Brown applied for two different loans as a sole proprietor with Harvest Small Business Finance, LLC, using the same Pelham, Georgia, address his father and sister used on their applications as the place of business. No such business existed, and Brown did not earn the gross income in 2019 of $103,400 that he claimed on the application. Tyreek Brown received the fraudulently obtained loans on April 15, 2021, and May 12, 2021, totaling $20,833. After the loan was approved, Tyreek Brown sent Jackson money from a joint account he shared with Alan Brown via Cash App and Zelle, amounting to $3,000.

The case was investigated by the Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General (DOJ-OIG), as part of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee Taskforce.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Veronica Hansis is prosecuting this case for the Government.