{"metadata":{"responseInfo":{"status":200},"resultset":{"count":"1","pagesize":20,"page":0},"executionTime":0.0056989192962646484},"results":[{"attachment":"","body":"Joint national takedown:\u0026nbsp;40\u0026nbsp;U.S. Attorney\u2019s Offices, along with 20 federal and state investigative agencies,\u0026nbsp;participate\u0026nbsp;in two-month enforcement surgeGRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN \u2013 U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Cynoda Jonelle Sparkling, 35, of Lansing, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with defrauding three different federally funded COVID relief programs. Sparkling is scheduled to be sentenced on November 30, 2026, and faces a minimum of two years and up to 20 years in prison.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 dollars in intended loss to American taxpayers.The case was 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;The Western District of Michigan was a key participant in this surge effort.Sparkling defrauded various COVID-era relief programs by stealing or attempting to steal $124,995 from the Paycheck Protection Program, $17,000 from the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, and $262,248 from several different states\u2019 unemployment insurance programs. She applied for the loans in her own name and in the names of third parties using stolen identities.U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey said, \u201cEvery federal district in America is prosecuting people like Sparkling, who saw an opportunity to defraud the taxpayers when the government rolled out COVID-era relief programs.\u0026nbsp; Sparkling will now face the consequences of her fraudulent conduct, and so will others that engaged in similar fraud.\u0026nbsp; I want our message to be clear:\u0026nbsp; if you are thinking of trying to defraud a federal program, you had better think again because you will not like what happens to you.\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.\u201dThis summer surge shows what is possible when dedicated public servants across the\u0026nbsp; country work together with a single purpose,\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. \u201cOur mission is clear: protect taxpayer funds, safeguard the integrity of federal relief programs, and deliver justice to those who exploited them. We will remain steadfast every day\u2014standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners\u2014to identify fraud, pursue those responsible, and restore confidence in the programs meant to help American small businesses thrive.\u201d\u201cToday\u2019s announcement represents the largest-ever action against perpetrators of SBA fraud, with 870,000 suspended borrowers tied to $39 billion in suspected fraudulent PPP and COVID EIDL activity. In partnership with Vice President Vance and the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, we\u2019re putting fraudsters on notice: the federal government will no longer turn a blind eye to those who stole from taxpayers and exploited programs designed to sustain small businesses during the pandemic,\u201d said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. \u201cWith demand letters going out to suspected fraudsters, we\u2019re also sending a clear message that they must repay their debts or face Treasury collections and possible federal law enforcement. Under this Administration, the free ride is over. We are restoring accountability, recovering taxpayer dollars, and protecting SBA programs for the legitimate small businesses they were created to serve.\u201dOperation No Doze brings a focused and coordinated approach to pursuing fraud in SBA\u2019s pandemic relief programs,\u201d said SBA Inspector General William Kirk. \u201cBy concentrating our investigative resources and working closely with SBA and our law enforcement partners, we are strengthening our ability to identify fraud, recover taxpayer funds, and hold accountable those who exploited programs created to help small businesses in a time of extraordinary need. This initiative makes clear that the passage of time does not diminish our commitment to accountability.\u201dThe Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Investigator General are investigating this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Clay Stiffler is prosecuting it.\u0026nbsp;On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\u201cFraud Division\u201d). 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;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;","changed":"\u003Ctime datetime=\u00222026-09-15T09:17:58-04:00\u0022\u003E1789478278\u003C\/time\u003E\n","component":[{"uuid":"76fae1b5-b1ed-4f8b-a487-dd52025ba7da","name":"USAO - Michigan, Western"}],"created":"\u003Ctime datetime=\u00222026-09-15T08:52:56-04:00\u0022\u003E1789476776\u003C\/time\u003E\n","date":"1789473600","image":"","number":"","teaser":"\u003Cp class=\u0022text-align-center\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EJoint national takedown:\u0026nbsp;40\u0026nbsp;U.S. Attorney\u2019s Offices, along with 20 federal and state investigative agencies,\u0026nbsp;participate\u0026nbsp;in two-month enforcement surge\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","title":"The U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office for the Western District of Michigan Joins the DOJ\u2019s Fraud Division, SBA and the 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-wdmi\/pr\/2026_0915_Heartland_Fraud_Surge_PR","uuid":"359d4bfc-fdde-4267-99b8-35be6ef5afd6"}]}