United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown Announces the Sentencing of 24 Defendants — Payment Protection Program (PPP) — Shreveport, La.

Summary

United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announces the sentencing of 24 defendants in a case involving a scheme to defraud the United States by fraudulently applying for and receiving relief through the Payment Protection Program (PPP) provided by the CARES Act. The release states the defendants were members or associates of a Shreveport street gang that refer to themselves as Step or Die or SOD. It states that law enforcement learned of fraudulent activity causing 31 loans to be funded worth more than $600,000 and applications for an additional 41 other loans seeking over $2,200,000. A table lists each defendant with age, sentence, restitution, charges and loan amounts requested, including 71 months in prison for Johntrell Crutchfield and 5 years of probation for Nico J. Stewart.

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SHREVEPORT, La.
– United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announces the sentencing of 24 defendants in a case involving a scheme by these defendants to defraud the United States by fraudulently applying for and receiving relief through the Payment Protection Program (“PPP”) provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act.
In March 2020 Congress enacted the CARES Act which was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who were suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the CARES Act, the Small Business Administration (SBA) provided Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), which were low-interest financing to small businesses, renters and homeowners in regions affected by declared disasters. The CARES Act also provided authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through a program referred to as the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”).
On July 18, 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the indictment of 24 defendants who were all members or associates of a Shreveport street gang that refer to themselves as Step or Die or SOD. As of today, all 24 defendants have been sentenced.
This case began when law enforcement agents learned that these individuals were conducting fraudulent activity causing 31 loans to be funded worth more than $600,000 and applied for an additional 41 other loans seeking over $2,200,000. These defendants purported to own businesses providing various services including, freight, trucking, towing, painting, lawn care, t-shirt printing, day care, temporary employment placement, cosmetology, beauty supplies, catering, car washing, and retail clothing, along with pig and cattle farms. In reality, these individuals either did not have such businesses or grossly overstated the amount of revenue earned so that they would qualify for PPP or EIDL loans.
“We stood before you at a press conference 16 months ago announcing these charges and vowing to hold these 24 individuals accountable for defrauding and attempting to defraud the government out of over $2,000,000,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “All of these defendants, some directly and indirectly, are linked to gang activity, acts of violent crime such as murder, attempted murder, and violations of state and federal firearm law. Although the federal government generally has no jurisdiction over murder and attempted murder charges, such as drive-by shootings, we vow to use any statute that exists in the federal criminal code to eradicate violent crime.  This combination of sentences is a result of varying levels of culpability in this scheme and prior criminal histories, if any, of those convicted.  Investigations such as these meet 2 priorities of the Department: (1) prosecuting those who steal from the government, and (2) holding those accountable responsible for acts of violence in our community.”
The names and sentences of the defendants are as follows:
Defendant Name
Sentencing Information
Charges
Loan Amount Requested
Sirdell L. McCullough
Age 26, Shreveport
30 months in prison
$20,382 in restitution
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
Wire Fraud
$20,832 / PPP
Roderguiz Henry
Age 27, Shreveport
24 months in prison
$20,260 in restitution
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
Wire Fraud
$20,260 / PPP
Johntrell Crutchfield
Age 24, Shreveport
71 months in prison
$20,832 in restitution
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
Wire Fraud
$20,832 / PPP
Deanthony D. Johnson
Age 24, Shreveport
46 months in prison
$28,575 in restitution
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
Wire Fraud
$20,575 / PPP
$8,000 / EIDL
Deaaundrakous Latrea Hagger
Age 25, Shreveport
16 months in prison
$1,500 in restitution
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
Wire Fraud
$20,833 / PPP
$20,833 / PPP
Nico J.  Stewart
Age 36, Shreveport
5 years of probation
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
Wire Fraud
$4,000 / EIDL
$1,000 / EIDL
Timothy D.  Vasher
Age 22, Shreveport
19 months in prison
$20,832 in restitution
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
Wire Fraud
$20,832 / PPP
Destane Glass
Age 23, Shreveport
37 months in prison
$104,160 in restitution
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
Wire Fraud
$20,832 / PPP
Xavien R. Beasley
Age 24, Bossier City
15 months in prison
$30,050 in restitution
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
Wire Fraud
$10,000 / EIDL
Quinterrius D. Brown
Age 23, Shreveport
24 months in prison
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
$30,800/ EIDL
Not funded
Toronco Rashard Loston
Age 26, Shreveport
24 months in prison
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
$20,832 / PPP
Not funded
$201,100 / EIDL
Not funded
Dewonnie Brown
Age 55, Shreveport
5 years of probation
$60,498 in restitution
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
Wire Fraud
$20,832 / PPP
$20,800 / PPP
$20,833 / PPP
$20,833 / PPP
Joshua Dominique
Age 25, Shreveport
16 months in prison
$20,832 in restitution
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
Wire Fraud
$20,832 / PPP
Kardarius Jenkins
Age 23, Shreveport
15 months in prison
$20,832 in restitution
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
$20,832 / PPP
Jasmine Glass
Age 23, Shreveport
15 months in prison
$29,165 in restitution
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
Wire Fraud
$8,332 / PPP
Tramaine Taylor
Age 28, Shreveport
5 years of probation
$20,832 in restitution
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
Wire Fraud
$20,832 / PPP
Antoria Johnson
Age 26, Shreveport
5 years of probation
$40,916 in restitution
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
Wire Fraud
$20,458 / PPP
$20,458 / PPP
Joketa Baulkman
Age 41, Shreveport
5 years of probation
$38,010 in restitution
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
Wire Fraud
$19,005 / PPP
$19,005 / PPP
Tyneal Johnson
Age 37, Coushatta
5 years of probation
$41,633 in restitution
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
Wire Fraud
$20,833 / PPP
$20,800 / PPP
Cierra Fleming
Age 23, Shreveport
5 years of probation
$20,207 in restitution
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
$20,207 / PPP
Tramarciea Ruffins
Age 31, Shreveport
33 months in prison
$20,415 in restitution
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
Wire Fraud
$20,415 / PPP
Olivia Thomas
Age 28, Shreveport
3 years of probation
$62,496 in restitution
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
Wire Fraud
$20,832 / PPP
Samarrian Kingston
Age 26, Shreveport
24 months in prison
$101,360 in restitution
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
Wire Fraud
$20,272 / PPP
Lakeah Gipson
Age 28, Bossier City
5 years of probation
$20,058 in restitution
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
Wire Fraud
$20,058 / PPP
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Treasury-Inspector General for Tax Administration, and United States Marshal’s Service and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Aaron Crawford.
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