[US] St. Louis woman admits $828,000 pandemic loan fraud

On July 11, a woman from Florissant, St. Louis, pleaded guilty to federal charges and admitted submitting fraudulent applications that triggered $828,813 in loans and grants that were intended for businesses struggling during the pandemic, United States Department of Justice reports.

Dionneshae Forland (51) pleaded guilty to bank fraud, theft of government property and four counts of wire fraud and admitted a scheme to fraudulently obtain money from the Paycheck Protection Program and the Missouri Small Business Grant Program.

From January 2021 until May 2021, Ms Forland reportedly lied on PPP loan applications about the number of employees and monthly payroll expenses of the companies that she claimed needed help. In addition, she submitted fraudulent tax forms, bank statements, payroll records and employee lists to back up the scheme.

Ms Forland obtained four loans totalling $592,235 for herself but did not spend the money for PPP-approved purposes - instead spending it on her personal expenses - according to her plea agreement. She also fraudulently obtained a $150,000 loan for a company linked to her son, Dwayne Times, and two loans totalling $36,600 on behalf of two people referred to her by Mr Times.

Ms Forland also submitted four fraudulent grant applications to the Missouri Small Business Grant Program in July 2020, however, no grants were disbursed. She was successful in fraudulently obtaining a grant for one company by falsely claiming it had been in operation since February 2017 and by submitting false documents and information about the number of employees and the payroll, her plea agreement says.  

A grant of $49,988 was disbursed into a bank account controlled by Mr Times. He withdrew $8,000 in cash before the money was “clawed back” as a result of officials’ fraud suspicions.

As part of her plea, Ms Forland reportedly agreed to forfeit any profits from her scheme. Nearly $600,000 has been seized from various accounts linked to Ms Forland and Mr Times.

On June 9, Mr Times (31) pleaded guilty to one count each of wire fraud and theft of government property. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 11.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting.

On July 11, a woman from Florissant, St. Louis, pleaded guilty to federal charges and admitted submitting fraudulent applications that triggered $828,813 in loans and grants that were intended for businesses struggling during the pandemic, United States Department of Justice reports.

Dionneshae Forland (51) pleaded guilty to bank fraud, theft of government property and four counts of wire fraud and admitted a scheme to fraudulently obtain money from the Paycheck Protection Program and the Missouri Small Business Grant Program.

From January 2021 until May 2021, Ms Forland reportedly lied on PPP loan applications about the number of employees and monthly payroll expenses of the companies that she claimed needed help. In addition, she submitted fraudulent tax forms, bank statements, payroll records and employee lists to back up the scheme.

Ms Forland obtained four loans totalling $592,235 for herself but did not spend the money for PPP-approved purposes - instead spending it on her personal expenses - according to her plea agreement. She also fraudulently obtained a $150,000 loan for a company linked to her son, Dwayne Times, and two loans totalling $36,600 on behalf of two people referred to her by Mr Times.

Ms Forland also submitted four fraudulent grant applications to the Missouri Small Business Grant Program in July 2020, however, no grants were disbursed. She was successful in fraudulently obtaining a grant for one company by falsely claiming it had been in operation since February 2017 and by submitting false documents and information about the number of employees and the payroll, her plea agreement says.  

A grant of $49,988 was disbursed into a bank account controlled by Mr Times. He withdrew $8,000 in cash before the money was “clawed back” as a result of officials’ fraud suspicions.

As part of her plea, Ms Forland reportedly agreed to forfeit any profits from her scheme. Nearly $600,000 has been seized from various accounts linked to Ms Forland and Mr Times.

On June 9, Mr Times (31) pleaded guilty to one count each of wire fraud and theft of government property. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 11.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting.