Pandemic Darlings The pandemic economy, in original documents
Home Court filings United States v. Monica Faye Barnes, et al.

Case docket

United States v. Barnes PPP fraud case — U.S. District Court, E.D.N.C.

United States v. Monica Faye Barnes, et al. — 16 court filings in the archive from U.S. District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina, filed between March 22, 2023 and April 18, 2025. Among them: 2 sentencing memoranda, 1 information and 1 memorandum or brief.

Case facts

CourtU.S. District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina
Filings16 public filings
Filed2023-03-22 – 2025-08-27
Document typessentencing memoranda (2), information (1), memorandum or brief (1), order (1)
Original PDFs16 of 16

Case summary

United States v. Monica Faye Barnes, et al., No. 5:23-cr-00094-D in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, concerns a Paycheck Protection Program loan obtained in the name of Minnie's Banana Cups and Catering Service, Inc. The criminal information filed March 22, 2023 charges Monica Faye Barnes and Dontrell Rayshar Barnes with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and states that the fraudulent PPP application claimed seven employees and an annual payroll of approximately $700,000. Both pleaded guilty to count one. Monica Faye Barnes was sentenced July 28, 2023 to 12 months and one day, three years of supervised release, restitution of $153,711.46 and a $100 assessment. Dontrell Rayshare Barnes received the same terms on February 22, 2024. The Fourth Circuit dismissed his appeal in part and affirmed in part on April 18, 2025.

Case at a glance

Defendant(s)Monica Faye Barnes; Dontrell Rayshar Barnes (spelled Dontrell Rayshare Barnes in the judgment)
Court and docketU.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, No. 5:23-cr-00094-D
ProgramPaycheck Protection Program (PPP)
ChargesConspiracy to commit wire fraud, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1349 and 1343, count one; offense ended September 30, 2021
Outcome and sentenceBoth pleaded guilty to count one. Monica Faye Barnes: 12 months and one day, three years supervised release, restitution $153,711.46, $100 assessment (July 28, 2023). Dontrell Rayshare Barnes: the same terms (February 22, 2024)
Status checked2026-09-23 · against DOJ press releases through 2026-09-22; court docket not yet read

What were the Barneses sentenced to?

Each was committed to the Bureau of Prisons for a total term of 12 months and one day, with three years of supervised release to follow. Each judgment orders restitution of $153,711.46 and a $100 special assessment; the court recommended FCI Alderson for Monica Faye Barnes and FCI Butner for Dontrell Rayshare Barnes.

What does the information say about the PPP application?

It states that the application and supporting paperwork for Minnie's Banana Cups claimed seven employees and an annual payroll of approximately $700,000, figures designed to yield a PPP loan of just under $150,000, and that the loan was obtained with the assistance of two people in Texas paid a percentage of the proceeds. Its forfeiture allegation seeks a money judgment of at least $94,791 against Monica Faye Barnes.

What happened after sentencing?

Monica Faye Barnes was released from the Bureau of Prisons on May 3, 2024, and on October 21, 2024 the court denied her motion for a sentence reduction as moot. The Fourth Circuit dismissed Dontrell Barnes's appeal in part, as barred by his appeal waiver, and affirmed the judgment in part, on April 18, 2025.

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

Filings

16 public filings from this case, in filing-date order.

  1. Criminal Information — United States v. Monica Faye Barnes and Dontrell Rayshar Barnes (E.D.N.C.)Information · PDF
  2. Consent Preliminary Order of Forfeiture — United States v. Monica Faye BarnesPDF
  3. Defendant's Sentencing Memorandum — United States v. Monica Faye Barnes (E.D.N.C.)Sentencing memorandum · PDF
  4. Judgment in a Criminal Case — United States v. Monica Faye BarnesPDF
  5. Transcript of Arraignment and Guilty Plea — United States v. Monica Faye BarnesTranscript · PDF
  6. Sentencing Hearing Transcript — United States v. Monica Faye BarnesPDF
  7. Memorandum in Support of Motion for Sentence Reduction — United States v. Monica Faye Barnes (E.D.N.C.)Memorandum or brief · PDF
  8. Sentencing Memorandum — United States v. Dontrell BarnesSentencing memorandum · PDF
  9. Judgment in a Criminal Case — United States v. Dontrell BarnesPDF
  10. Sentencing Hearing Transcript — United States v. Dontrell BarnesPDF
  11. Fourth Circuit Order Dismissing Appeal — United States v. Monica Faye Barnes (E.D.N.C.)PDF
  12. Transcript of Arraignment and Guilty Plea — United States v. Dontrell BarnesTranscript · PDF
  13. Order Denying Motion for Sentence Reduction as Moot — United States v. Monica Faye Barnes (E.D.N.C.)Order · PDF
  14. Fourth Circuit Opinion — United States v. Dontrell BarnesPDF
  15. Petition for Action on Supervised Release — United States v. Dontrell BarnesMotion · PDF
  16. Petition for Action on Supervised Release — United States v. Monica Faye BarnesMotion · PDF

Court, dates and docket numbers are as recorded on the filings.

Back to top