4 Arizona swindlers sentenced for Paycheck Protection Program fraud

Summary

An archived ICE web feature from Operation Stolen Promise, dated June 12, 2023, reporting that Willie Mitchell, Sean Swaringer, Kimberly Coleman and Jason Coleman of Arizona were sentenced for Paycheck Protection Program fraud after pleading guilty to bank fraud. Mitchell received 97 months from U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow; Judge Steven P. Logan sentenced Swaringer to 121 months, Kimberly Coleman to 120 months and Jason Coleman to 60 months, each with five years of supervised release. The feature states Mitchell fraudulently obtained seven loans totaling $9,470,900, Swaringer was ordered to pay more than $3.8 million in restitution, and the Colemans fraudulently obtained more than $13 million. Homeland Security Investigations assisted the FBI in the investigation.

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Archived Content

In an effort to keep ICE.gov current, the archive contains content from a previous administration or is otherwise outdated. This information is archived and not reflective of current practice.

Reporting

To report suspected illicit criminal activity or fraudulent schemes related to the COVID-19 pandemic, email Covid19Fraud@dhs.gov .

Web Feature

Operation Stolen Promise

June 12, 2023 Phoenix , AZ , United States Covid-19, Financial Crimes

4 Arizona swindlers sentenced for Paycheck Protection Program fraud after HSI Phoenix investigation

PHOENIX, Ariz. — Four Arizona residents were sentenced June 8 to significant prison terms in connection with their schemes to fraudulently obtain millions of dollars in Paycheck Protection Program loans, a federal loan initiative designed to help businesses pay their employees and meet expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) assisted the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation division, and the Small Business Administration’s Office of Inspector General.

“The countless hours spent by agents to ensure a successful prosecution, which resulted in notable sentencings for these defendants, is a testament that HSI and our law enforcement partners are closely investigating criminal schemes for illicit financial gain,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Scott Brown. “The pandemic caused so much suffering and financial loss for so many people — but for some, this was shamefully an opportunity to capitalize financially. Let it be known: Stealing from hardworking taxpayers will not be tolerated. Law enforcement is closely monitoring for illegitimate and financial schemes.”

All four defendants — Willie Mitchell, Sean Swaringer, Kimberly Coleman and Jason Coleman — pleaded guilty to bank fraud.

The defendants were sentenced as follows:

- Willie Mitchell aka Blu Mitchell, 41, of Phoenix: 97 months in prison. U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow sentenced him on Feb. 6.
- Sean Swaringer, 57, of Peoria: 121 months in prison. U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan sentenced him on April 4.
- Kimberly Coleman, 39, of Mesa: 120 months in prison. Logan sentenced her on April 10.
- Jason Coleman, 41, of Mesa: 60 months in prison. Logan sentenced him on May 15.

In addition to their prison terms, the judges ordered all four defendants to serve five years of supervised release.

Mitchell, working with others, fraudulently obtained seven Paycheck Protection Program loans totaling $9,470,900. He purchased a vehicle, multiple properties and vacations with the funds.

Swaringer obtained four fraudulent loans totaling more than $1.5 million on behalf of two entities: Cryotherapy for Veterans and Cryoworld Therapy, LLC. In addition to his own loans, Swaringer also recruited more than 10 individuals to apply for fraudulent loans. He assisted in preparing and submitting applications in exchange for kickbacks from the individuals’ loan proceeds. Swaringer was ordered to pay more than $3.8 million in restitution for his own loans and the kickbacks from at least 15 other Paycheck Protection Program loans. He purchased jewelry, vehicles, vacations and real estate with the fraudulent funds.

Kimberly Coleman and her husband, Jason Coleman, collectively prepared and submitted approximately two dozen fraudulent loan applications in an attempt to receive more than $30 million in funds. They were successful in at least 10 of those submissions and fraudulently obtained more than $13 million. The Colemans’ purchases included luxury vehicles and real estate properties, personal property from several high-end retail outlets, vacations and jewelry.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona in Phoenix prosecuted the cases.

HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.

Updated: 06/11/2025

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