Fresh From Federal Prison, a Halfway-House Resident Claimed a $99,000 Taxi Business

According to court documents, in 2021 James applied for a Paycheck Protection Program loan claiming he was running a taxi and rideshare business called "Kip James." In reality, James was at a halfway house in Cincinnati, having just been released following a 92-month federal prison sentence for illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. He listed the halfway house as his address on the application. He claimed the business had approximately $99,000 in gross income in 2019, while he was still incarcerated, and submitted a forged bank statement in support.¹

James received nearly $21,000 and spent the money at restaurants, on clothing, shoes, and liquor, and on a trip to Las Vegas. He pleaded guilty in September 2024 to making false statements to the federal government and was ordered to pay back $20,725 in restitution. Senior U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett imposed the sentence; U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker and Homeland Security Investigations Detroit Special Agent in Charge Angie M. Salazar announced it. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Landry represented the government.¹

Documents cited

Notes

1. U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio, "Convicted felon sentenced to prison for pandemic relief fraud" (original), February 12, 2025. ↩₁ ↩₂ ↩₃