{"metadata":{"responseInfo":{"status":200},"resultset":{"count":"1","pagesize":20,"page":0},"executionTime":0.0031621456146240234},"results":[{"attachment":"","body":"KANSAS CITY, KAN. \u2013 The U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office \u2013 District of Kansas (USAO-KS) today announced indictments as part of a nationwide enforcement action led by the Justice Department\u2019s National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Small Business Administration, and the SBA Office of Inspector General targeting fraud in the SBA\u2019s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). \u0026nbsp;USAO-KS was a key participant in this surge effort. \u0026nbsp;From June 12 to September 1, federal prosecutors across the country facilitated fraud enforcement actions spanning over 160 criminal defendants, including approximately 80 newly charged defendants, reaching approximately $245 million in intended loss to American taxpayers.\u201cOver the years we have convicted schemers who illegally secured PPP loans then went on shopping sprees on the federal government\u2019s dime, but we\u2019re not done. The Justice Department has a very long memory, and the statute of limitations has been extended for this type of fraud,\u201d said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. \u201cTo those who lied on applications and haven\u2019t yet had the law show up at your door, don\u2019t be surprised when we come knocking with an arrest warrant in hand.\u201d\u201cPandemic loan relief was meant to keep American small businesses alive during government lockdowns\u2014not line the pockets of fraudsters,\u201d said Attorney General Todd Blanche. \u201cThe defendants charged during our summer surge allegedly fabricated businesses, submitted false payroll and revenue claims, stole identities, and concealed foreign ties on their applications\u2014 but they will now be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.\u201d\u0026nbsp;In the District of Kansas, U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser announced that four defendants, including a husband and wife, have been charged with PPP-related fraud involving approximately $182,000 in alleged losses.\u0026nbsp;According to the indictments: \u0026nbsp;\u2022\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Greg Wegenka, 74, of Wakarusa, is accused of providing false IRS documents to receive a PPP loan for a small business then allegedly using loan proceeds for impermissible purposes.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Loss: $29,000 \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Maximum Sentence If Convicted: 20 years in prison\u2022\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Laurie Wegenka, 66, of Wakarusa, is accused of applying for and receiving PPP loans for a small business using false IRS forms.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Loss: $115,000 \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Maximum Sentence If Convicted: 20 years in prison\u2022\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Vanesha Whisonant, 25, of Kansas City, Kansas, is accused of receiving a PPP loan for a home-based business after allegedly filing an application with false information about the number of employees and payroll.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Loss: $18,000 \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Maximum Sentence If Convicted: 20 years in prison\u2022\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Dominic Williams, 35, of Kansas City, Kansas, is accused of receiving a PPP by falsely claiming to be a sole proprietor business with $100K in proceeds and allegedly submitting false bank statements to receive loans and to receive loan forgiveness.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Loss: $20,832 \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Maximum Sentence If Convicted: 20 years in prisonThese case are being investigated by the Small Business Administration \u2013 Office of Inspector General (SBA- OIG) and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Oakley.\u0026nbsp;On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to\u202feliminate\u202ffraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;An indictment, information, or complaint\u202fis merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\u202f###","changed":"\u003Ctime datetime=\u00222026-09-15T10:18:49-04:00\u0022\u003E1789481929\u003C\/time\u003E\n","component":[{"uuid":"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409","name":"National Fraud Enforcement Division"},{"uuid":"c8308b31-5792-42cf-9366-54c531eb1646","name":"USAO - Kansas"}],"created":"\u003Ctime datetime=\u00222026-09-14T16:57:43-04:00\u0022\u003E1789419463\u003C\/time\u003E\n","date":"1789387200","image":"","number":"","teaser":"\u003Cp\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office \u2013 District of Kansas (USAO-KS) today announced indictments as part of a nationwide enforcement action led by the Justice Department\u2019s National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Small Business Administration, and the SBA Office of Inspector General targeting fraud in the SBA\u2019s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). \u0026nbsp;USAO-KS was a key participant in this surge effort. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","title":"The USAO-KS Joins DOJ Fraud Division, SBA, and SBA OIG in COVID-Era Loan Takedown Exceeding $245 Million in Fraud","topic":[{"uuid":"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4","name":"Fraud"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-ks\/pr\/usao-ks-joins-doj-fraud-division-sba-and-sba-oig-covid-era-loan-takedown-exceeding-245","uuid":"5d5d823d-ad68-4469-a6f8-d5d3b3674460"}]}