ATLANTA — Two family members have been sentenced to prison for their involvement in a scheme to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.
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According to the Northern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office, in July 2021, federal agents began investigating a Florida resident for suspected tax crimes.
Agents obtained and conducted a search warrant for the home, computer and cellular phone of Johnny Narcisse, 46, of Atlanta.
The DA said that when agents searched the computer and phone, they found extensive evidence that showed Narcisse and his cousin, Johnson Dieujuste, 37, of Loganville, had been in a conspiracy to recruit small business owners and then file fraudulent applications for COVID-19 relief loans, including both PPP and EIDL loans, on their behalf.
After the pair got the names, business names, and employer identification numbers from the would-be borrowers, they made up the rest of the information needed to apply for the forged loans, according to the DA.
If the loan was approved, the borrowers gave a percentage of the loan money to Narcisse and Dieujuste. Dozens of loans were applied for as part of the plan, with over $2 million distributed.
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The DA said evidence showed that Narcisse and Diejuste each independently filed for fraudulent COVID-19 loans for themselves on top of the other loan applications.
Narcisse pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He was sentenced to two years and four months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $2,000,332 in restitution.
Dieujuste also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $2,081,559 in restitution.
“These defendants brazenly stole funds from programs designed to help individuals and businesses suffering during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr.
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