{"attachment": "", "body": "<p><strong>PORTLAND, Maine:</strong>&nbsp;A Kennebunk woman pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Portland today to wire fraud.</p><p>According to court records, in April 2021, <strong>Meghan Martell</strong>, 33, submitted an application to a California lender for a loan from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Martell falsely stated on the application that she was the sole proprietor of a beauty salon with gross income in 2019 of $99,870. She also submitted fraudulent documentation in support of the application, including a false tax form. The California lender transferred $20,806 in PPP funds to Martell’s bank account in Maine.</p><p>Martell faces up to 20 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000, followed by up to three years of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.</p><p>IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.</p><p><strong>Paycheck Protection Program (PPP):</strong>&nbsp;The PPP was a COVID-19 pandemic relief program administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) that provided forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses. The PPP permitted participating third-party lenders to approve and disburse SBA-backed PPP loans to cover payroll, fixed debts, utilities, rent/mortgage, accounts payable and other bills incurred by qualifying businesses during, and resulting from, the COVID-19 pandemic. PPP loans were fully guaranteed by the SBA.</p><p class=\"text-align-center\"><strong>###</strong></p>", "changed": "<time datetime=\"2025-01-13T16:27:19-05:00\">1736803639</time>\n", "component": [{"name": "USAO - Maine", "uuid": "7eb5d47c-fc6f-4914-9897-1dcc1e477646"}], "created": "<time datetime=\"2025-01-13T16:24:13-05:00\">1736803453</time>\n", "date": "1736769600", "image": "", "number": "", "teaser": "<p>Meghan Martell, 33, submitted an application for a PPP loan, falsely stating she was the sole proprietor of a beauty salon with gross income in 2019 of $99,870 and submitting fraudulent documentation in support of the application.</p>", "title": "Kennebunk Woman Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining PPP Funds During Pandemic", "topic": [{"name": "COVID-Related Fraud", "uuid": "6827a162-b783-4ffa-a6c2-596fc9f07e39"}, {"name": "Financial Fraud", "uuid": "77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3"}], "url": "https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/pr/kennebunk-woman-pleads-guilty-fraudulently-obtaining-ppp-funds-during-pandemic", "uuid": "7ea06a51-f847-46de-8e17-170fd4c246fb"}