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Eric Rivera

Executive

PPP
Type
Person
Role
Executive
Programs
PPP
Updated

The profile

A Norcross, Georgia man charged as the orchestrator of a multi-state COVID-19 relief fraud scheme, accused of recruiting businesses into the fraud and taking 15–50% of proceeds. He pleaded guilty in April 2026 to bank-fraud and wire-fraud conspiracy . Sentencing is set for Oct. 7, 2026.

Individuals whose conduct was challenged or called into question during or after the pandemic. See sources: DOJ charging release, July 19, 2023 DOJ indictment release, April 17, 2024

Identity and role

Eric Rivera, 43, of Norcross, Georgia, was charged in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey as the orchestrator of a multi-state COVID-19 relief fraud scheme, alongside co-defendants Lisa Smith, Sieff Robert Sargeant, Adrienne Ponzo, James Wessels, Yasha Barjona, and William Ingram. He made his initial appearance in federal court in the Northern District of Georgia, per the July 2023 charging release.

The scheme and pandemic-relief role

According to the July 2023 DOJ charging release , Rivera recruited businesses into the scheme and took 15–50% of the proceeds. Co-defendant Lisa Smith prepared fraudulent PPP applications and false tax returns; Sieff Robert Sargeant distributed fake payroll checks; Adrienne Ponzo prepared fraudulent EIDL applications; James Wessels created fake payroll checks. Per the April 2024 indictment release , two companies Rivera controlled also received $285,000 in PPP loans on applications that included fake bank statements and IRS tax forms. The October 2024 sentencing release for KeyBank branch manager Tommy Hawkins states that Hawkins worked with Rivera and Lisa Smith to recruit applicants to his Conshohocken, Pennsylvania branch. Per the same release, Hawkins had an agreement with Rivera and Smith to be paid $5,000 from the proceeds of each PPP loan he helped obtain. PPP loan records associate a loan through Fountainhead SBF LLC with Rivera's case entry. Two co-defendants pleaded guilty in July 2023: Yasha Barjona (received approximately $724,300) and William Ingram (received approximately $551,600); the docket as of July 16, 2026 showed both unsentenced, with sentencings then set for Aug. 25 and Aug. 6, 2026.

  • Charged: July 19, 2023, by complaint with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey (DOJ release); initial appearance in the Northern District of Georgia, released on a $10,000 unsecured bond.
  • Indicted: April 17, 2024, on one count of bank fraud conspiracy, three counts of bank fraud, one count of wire fraud conspiracy, two counts of wire fraud, one count of money laundering conspiracy, and eight counts of money laundering.
  • Pleaded guilty: April 22, 2026, to Count 1 (bank fraud conspiracy) and Count 5 (wire fraud conspiracy) of the indictment before Judge Karen M. Williams (Dkt. 121 minute entry and Dkt. 123 plea agreement; our copies of both are image-only, so the plea terms — including the $737,816 forfeiture — are cited to the docket). The plea came before a June 22, 2026 jury trial date (docket). No DOJ or FDIC OIG release announcing the plea has been located.
  • Sentencing: set for Oct. 7, 2026 (docket).

Where they are now (2025–2026)

Awaiting sentencing (set for Oct. 7, 2026) on the April 22, 2026 guilty plea.

Sources

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