NEW BERN, N.C. (NCN News) — A Robeson County woman has been sentenced in connection with defrauding a federal Covid-related loan program.
A federal judge sentenced Erica McMillian, who engaged in a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) by submitting a false loan application which resulted in the disbursement of $150,000 in loan proceeds was sentenced to 10 months, 3 years supervised release, and ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution.
“Although the Covid loans may have stopped, our government continues to dole out billions in other forms of loans, subsidies, and programs. This office will continue to hold accountable anyone who defrauds any of our taxpayer funded programs. This Covid fraudster has learned the lesson – Cheaters.Never.Win.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle in a press release.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, McMillian submitted a fraudulent EIDL loan application for a fictitious business located in Robeson County. Inmate McMillian made false representations of the number of employees and gross revenues. She also submitted false and fraudulent tax forms and bank statements. Following approval of the loan application, funds were disbursed into a personal account controlled by McMillian.
Boyle made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced the defendant. The FBI and the IRS-CI investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan Ontjes is prosecuted the case.