United States v. Natosia Jerome Jenkins — U.S. District Court, E.D.N.C.

Case summary

Natosia Jerome Jenkins pleaded guilty to count 1 of a criminal information in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, No. 5:23-CR-167-1D, and was adjudicated guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud under 18 U.S.C. §§ 1349 and 1343, offense ended November 2021. The information charges that from about February 2021 to about November 2021 Jenkins and others conspired to defraud the United States in the name of at least two companies he owned or controlled, in a scheme against institutions and agencies providing COVID-19 financial assistance, and seeks a forfeiture money judgment of at least $218,658.74. On November 29, 2023 the court imposed 15 months' imprisonment, three years of supervised release, a $100.00 assessment and $307,368.89 in restitution to the Small Business Administration.

Case at a glance

What was Jenkins sentenced to?

Fifteen months in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons, followed by three years of supervised release. The court recommended a medical evaluation and treatment and placement at FCI Butner, and the page carries a separate order to surrender dated the same day.

What do the PPP applications claim?

The information states that applications and supporting paperwork claimed both companies each had seven employees and an annual payroll of approximately $700,000, figures it describes as designed to yield loans of just under $150,000 so that forgiveness could be sought from the SBA with minimal paperwork.

What is owed?

$307,368.89 in restitution, all of it to the U.S. Small Business Administration, plus a $100.00 special assessment. The information separately seeks a forfeiture money judgment of at least $218,658.74 as the gross proceeds of the offense.

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