USA v. Thurmond et al. — U.S. District Court, S.D. Ga., Augusta Division

Case summary

Brandon Jamal Thurmond pleaded guilty to Count 1 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, Augusta Division, No. 1:23-cr-00021-JRH-BKE, charging conspiracy to commit wire fraud under 18 U.S.C. §§ 1349 and 1343, with the offense ended May 28, 2021. The plea agreement states that the object of the conspiracy was for the defendant and others to unlawfully enrich themselves by obtaining Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Paycheck Protection Program proceeds and unemployment insurance benefits under false and fraudulent pretences. Chief Judge J. Randal Hall imposed judgment on April 30, 2024, entered May 2, 2024: 21 months' imprisonment, three years of supervised release, a $100 assessment, no fine and $140,228.00 in restitution to four payees. The Eleventh Circuit dismissed his appeal on May 2, 2025.

Case at a glance

What was Thurmond sentenced to?

A total term of 21 months in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, with a recommendation of designation to a facility in Atlanta, Georgia subject to capacity, followed by three years of supervised release.

Who receives the restitution?

Four payees, for a total of $140,228.00 against a recorded total loss of $130,228: Harvest Small Business Finance, LLC ($83,332), the Arizona Department of Economic Security ($25,065), the Small Business Administration ($20,000 ordered against a $10,000 loss) and the Georgia Department of Labor ($11,831).

What happened on appeal?

The Eleventh Circuit granted the government's motion to dismiss the appeal, No. 24-11518, on May 2, 2025, on the basis of the appeal waiver in the appellant's plea agreement. The mandate issued June 5, 2025.

Summary written from the documents on this page; every sentence is sourced.