https://www.weeklycitizen.com/story/news/2023/12/10/baton-rouge-woman-sentenced-to-four-years-federal-prison-in-relation-to-defrauding-ppp-eidl/71869964007/
A Baton Rouge woman was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison after her convictions for wire fraud and money laundering in connection with fraudulent applications through the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, U.S. Attorney Ronald Gathe announced.
According to a news release, U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson sentenced 31-year-old Tiera Lands to the prison term, as well as a three-year term of supervised release after her release. Additionally, she was ordered to pay $858,726 in restitution and forfeit $138,212.
Per the report, a residence in Baton Rouge, a 2023 Mercedes-Benz G550, and a 2019 Infiniti Q60 were seized.
According to admissions made as part of the guilty plea, Lands owned and operated several businesses, in which she offered a variety of services.
Beginning about March 2020 and continuing through 2021, she defrauded the United States Small Business Administration, and two participating PPP lenders, by filing false and fraudulent applications for funds, per the release.
Lands reportedly would inflate the businesses’ gross sales and payroll amounts, among other false statements, and she would submit fraudulent tax documents.
Through more than a dozen applications, the scheme caused a loss of more than $1.5 million, according to the release.
Lands was also convicted of laundering some of the proceeds, by depositing cash into a bank account in structured deposits to conceal the source of the funds, per the report.
“This substantial sentence sends a clear message: our office, alongside our dedicated law enforcement partners, is firmly committed to prosecuting financial fraud, including non-violent crimes that breach public trust," Gathe said in the release. "Incarceration remains a viable consequence for those like Ms. Lands, who exploit government aid intended for businesses and individuals impacted by the pandemic. Additionally, we are vigorously investigating and prosecuting pandemic-related fraud. Our resolve is unyielding in holding accountable those who misuse taxpayer dollars meant for aiding those in need.”
