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Springfield Woman Indicted on Charges of Fraud

Summary

A press release of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of Illinois dated Wednesday, February 3, 2021, announcing that a grand jury returned an indictment charging Amber L. Bolen of Springfield with fraud in connection with major disaster or emergency benefits available through the Small Business Administration. The indictment alleges that in July 2020 Bolen applied for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan for a business that did not exist, representing that it employed 11 people and had gross revenues of more than $90,000. It states that the SBA wired approximately $41,000 in loan proceeds into Bolen's bank account. The release lists maximum penalties of up to 30 years for the disaster benefits fraud charge and up to 20 years for wire fraud.

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“Springfield Woman Indicted on Charges of Fraud.” Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2021-02-11-springfield-woman-indicted-on-charges-of-fraud-related-to-s-212651fabc/, SHA-256 a798a240e8b253fdfc7fd847c8bfd7ad1dfb6e1ed4460f5fbeb9c782697b0650.

Full text

                                     Department of Justice
                                       U.S. Attorney’s Office
                                     Central District of Illinois

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                  Wednesday, February 3, 2021

Springfield Woman Indicted on Charges of Fraud Related to
  Small Business Administration COVID-19 Disaster Loan
                       Program
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A grand jury today returned an indictment that charges a Springfield, Ill.,
woman, Amber L. Bolen, 41, with fraud in connection with major disaster or emergency benefits
available through the Small Business Administration.

The indictment alleges that in July 2020, Bolen, of the 1900 block of Gregory Ct., submitted an
application for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan for a business, known as “amber bolen,” which did
not exist. The indictment alleges that Bolen made false representations on the loan application
including that she owned the business, listed at the same address as her residential address, since
2013; that it was engaged in the transportation industry; and, that the business employed 11 people
and had gross revenues of more than $90,000 for the 12 months prior to Jan. 31, 2020. The SBA
wired approximately $41,000 in loan proceeds into Bolen’s bank account.

If convicted, the maximum statutory penalty for fraud in connection with major disaster or
emergency benefits is up to 30 years in prison; the maximum penalty for wire fraud is up to 20 years
in prison.

The charges were investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division as
part of a Central Illinois Task Force directed at combatting COVID-19 related fraud. Other
participating agencies in the task force include the Small Business Administration, Office of
Inspector General; U.S. Secret Service; Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector
General; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and,
the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sierra Senor-Moore is representing the
government in the case prosecution.

Covid-19 disaster relief and enhanced unemployment benefits are intended to help people and
businesses suffering as a result of the pandemic. If members of the public suspect anyone
fraudulently obtained or misused benefits, they should contact the National Center for Disaster
Fraud (NDCF) Hotline at 1-866-720-5721 or submit the NCDF Web Complaint Form. The NCDF is a
national coordinating agency within the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division dedicated to
improving the detection, prevention, investigation, and prosecution of criminal conduct related to
natural and man-made disasters and other emergencies, such as the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Hotline staff will obtain information regarding complaints, which will then be reviewed by law
enforcement officials. More information is available at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is
presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Topic(s):                                              Component(s):
Coronavirus                                            USAO - Illinois, Central
Financial Fraud

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