A Florida woman was sentenced in Georgia to three years in federal prison for defrauding government relief programs established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Calah Williams, 29, of Port St. Lucie, Florida, stole funds intended to support businesses and individuals impacted by the pandemic. She fraudulently applied for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, and unemployment insurance (UI) benefits using false information, including stolen identities.
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“Williams stole from programs designed to help the public during a global crisis, and now she will face the consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “This prosecution highlights our ongoing efforts to hold accountable those who abuse pandemic relief programs.”
According to court documents, Williams submitted 42 fraudulent EIDL applications, 16 PPP loan applications, and 177 false UI benefit applications across multiple states. She used fabricated information, including fake income figures, employee details, and stolen personally identifying information. In total, Williams attempted to steal approximately $4.8 million, successfully obtaining $1,026,241 before her scheme was largely detected and stopped.
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Williams pleaded guilty to the charges on July 31, 2024, and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May to three years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $1,026,241 in restitution.
“The efforts of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and our partners demonstrate a firm commitment to protecting taxpayer dollars and pursuing those who commit fraud,” said Special Agent in Charge Scott Moffit.
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