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Adrienne Ponzo

Executive

PPP · EIDL
Type
Person
Role
Executive
Programs
PPP, EIDL
Updated

The profile

A Bear, Delaware woman who prepared fraudulent PPP and EIDL applications in a multi-state COVID-19 relief fraud scheme — at large when charged in July 2023, indicted in April 2024, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy in April 2025, and sentenced in March 2026 (the 26-month term and $1.46 million restitution are cited to the docket). Her self-surrender, twice extended on medical grounds, was set for Aug. 21, 2026 as of the July 16, 2026 docket.

Individuals whose conduct was challenged or called into question during or after the pandemic. See sources: Criminal complaint, July 12, 2023 Guilty-plea application, April 9, 2025

In the archive

Identity and role

Adrienne Ponzo, 48, of Bear, Delaware, was one of five people charged in July 2023 in a multi-state COVID-19 relief fraud scheme, with Eric Rivera, Lisa Smith, Sieff Robert Sargeant and James Wessels. The same DOJ release said Yasha Barjona and William Ingram had pleaded guilty earlier that month to bank fraud conspiracy and that, according to court filings, Ponzo prepared fraudulent EIDL applications for their businesses.

The scheme and pandemic-relief role

According to the July 2023 DOJ charging release , the scheme was orchestrated by Eric Rivera, who recruited businesses into the fraud and took a share of proceeds; Lisa Smith prepared fraudulent PPP applications; Sieff Robert Sargeant distributed fake payroll checks; James Wessels created fake payroll checks; and Ponzo's role was preparing fraudulent EIDL applications. She was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Per her April 2025 plea release , co-conspirators recruited owners of companies with little or no operations and introduced them to Ponzo, who prepared fraudulent PPP and EIDL applications, including fraudulent bank statements and tax returns for companies that had none, and received a portion of the loan proceeds. The release puts the loans at 14 totaling about $1.5 million.

  • Charged: July 19, 2023, by complaint with conspiracy to commit wire fraud (DOJ release).
  • Indicted: April 17, 2024, on one count of wire fraud conspiracy, two counts of wire fraud, one count of money laundering conspiracy, and two counts of money laundering.
  • Pleaded guilty: April 9, 2025, to Count 5 of the indictment, wire fraud conspiracy, before U.S. District Judge Karen M. Williams (Dkt. 67 minute entry, DOJ release of April 16, 2025). A consent forfeiture money judgment of $144,325 was entered at the plea (Dkt. 71; docket).
  • Post-plea motion: on Nov. 26, 2025, Ponzo moved to stay the prosecution and to join the Giraud litigation challenging the Acting U.S. Attorney's authority (Dkt. 107); the court rescheduled her sentencing to Jan. 28, 2026 (docket).
  • Sentenced: March 4, 2026, to a prison term on Count 5, with the remaining counts dismissed on the government's motion (Dkt. 116 judgment). No DOJ or FDIC OIG release announcing the sentence has been located.
  • Self-surrender: the court extended her voluntary-surrender date twice, most recently on July 14, 2026 on medical grounds to Aug. 21, 2026 (Dkt. 134, our copy image-only; docket).

Where they are now (2025–2026)

Sentenced March 4, 2026. As of the July 16, 2026 docket, her self-surrender date was Aug. 21, 2026; her custody status after that date is not confirmed.

Court records

Sources

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