Indictment — U.S. v. Sonny Madumelu, No. 2:25-cr-00205 (S.D. Ohio)

Summary

An Indictment filed December 11, 2025 in United States of America v. Sonny Madumelu, No. 2:25-cr-00205, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division. Counts 1-7 (Wire Fraud) allege, under 18 U.S.C. § 1343, a scheme running from June 2020 through September 2021 that involved two EIDL applications to the SBA and PPP applications to Cross River Bank, Transportation Alliance Bank, Inc. and Funding Circle. Counts 8-15 are headed Concealment Money Laundering and list financial transactions by date and amount. A forfeiture allegation seeks a sum of money equal to $253,757 in United States currency.

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“Indictment — U.S. v. Sonny Madumelu, No. 2:25-cr-00205 (S.D. Ohio).” Original at storage.courtlistener.com. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/court-filing-no-2-25-cr-00205-dkt-2-s-d-ohio-4418f06e47/, SHA-256 062ea99b52f13a49f1d7f01d693bed69c4d108f3bf5bd2f4c6905faa549e7284.

Full text

Case: 2:25-cr-00205-EAS Doc #: 2 Filed: 12/11/25 Page: 1 of 10 PAGEID #: 4

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERNDISTRICTOF OHIO
EASTERN DIVISION

CASE NO. L - . ; . --- -; .. '. t-'
UNITED STATES OF AMEMCA ; . . - . . -.

JUDGE :
V.

SONNY MADUMELU INDICTMENT ^. ^^^^
18U.S.C. §1343 3~^^5^ S^t/5
18 U. S. C. § 1956(a)(l)(B)(i)
FORFEITURE ALLEGATION

THE GRAND JURY CHARGES:

All dates andtimes in this Indictment are alleged to be "on or about," "in and around," or

"through and including" the specific dates stated.

COUNTS 1-7
(Wire Fraud)

GENERALALLEGATIONS

At all times relevant to this Indictment, unless otherwise stated:

1. Defendant SONNY MADUMELU (MADUMELU) resided in the Southern

District of Ohio.

2. The Coronavims Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was a federal

law enacted on March 27, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the

millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The

CARESAct createdthe PaycheckProtection Program (PPP), whichwas a program overseen by

the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The CARES Act also expanded the Economic

Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program, which was also a program overseen by the SBA.

3. The PPPauthorizedqualifying small businessesto receive forgivable loans to

help pay payroll costs, rent, utilities, and other permissible expenses. The size of the PPP loan a
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particular businesscould receive was basedin part on the financial and other information

provided in the PPPapplication. PPPloans were entirely forgivable if the funds were used for

specifiedexpenses.

4. In order to obtaina PPPloan, a businesswas requiredto submit a loan application

to an approved lender. The loan applicationwas required to be signedby an authorized

representative ofthe business andwas requiredto contain certain financial and other

information. Applicants were also requiredto provide supporting documentation, such as federal

tax returns and other financial documentation. Any PPP loans that were funded by financial

institutions were fully guaranteed by the SBA.

5. The PPP loan application required a loan applicant to acknowledge the program

rules and make certain affirmative certifications in order to be eligible to obtain a PPP loan.

6. In January2021 , the SBA announcedthe availability ofa secondround ofPPP

loans, commonly known as "second draw" PPP loans.

7. The EIDLProgramauthorizedqualifying small businessto receive loans to help

pay payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could havebeenpaidhadthe disasternot

occurred.

8. In order to obtain an EIDL, a business was required to submit a loan application

through an online portal maintainedby the SBA. The applicant was required to provide financial

and other infonnation. The applicant electronically certified that the provided information was

accurate. If approved, the U. S. Treasury directly issuedEIDLfunds. The SBA determinedthe

amount ofthe EIDLoffered basedon the informationprovided on the loan application.

9. From June 2020 through September 2021, in the Southern District of Ohio and

elsewhere, MADUMELUknowingly devised andintendedto devise a scheme and artificeto
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defraud the United States, and to deprive another of money by means of materially false and

fraudulent pretenses, representations, andpromises, and attempted to do so.

MANNER AND MEANS

10. It was part of the scheme to defraud that MADUMELU submitted two EIDL

applications to the SBA.

11. It was further part ofthe scheme to defraudthat MADUIVIELUcertified in his

EIDLapplicationsthat the informationprovided in the applications wastrue and correct to the

best ofhis knowledge.

12. It was further part of the scheme to defraud that MADUMELU knowingly

submitted false information in his EIDLapplications.

13. It was further part ofthe scheme to defraudthat MADUMELUsubmitted

multiple PPP loan applications to lenders-namely, applicationsto Cross River Bank,

Transportation Alliance Bank, Inc. (including a second draw application), and Funding Circle.

14. It was furtherpart ofthe schemeto defraudthat MADUMELUcertified in his

PPPapplicationsthat the informationprovided in the applications and all supporting documents

andforms was true and accurate in all material respects.

15. It was further part of the scheme to defraud that MADUMELU included false

information in his PPP applications and submitted fraudulent documents in support ofhis PPP

applications.
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The following acts were also further part ofthe schemeto defraud:

First EIDL Application

16. On July 4, 2020, MADUMELU submitted an EIDL application for the business

"Trans world travel and shipping incl lie." The application falsely certified underthe penalty of

perjury that the business's gross revenues for the 12 months prior to the January 31, 2020, totaled

$120, 000. The SBA denied his application based on unsatisfactory credit history.

Second EIDL Application

17. On July 12, 2020, MADUMELUsubmitted anEIDLapplicationfor the business

"Uncle Sonny Traveling and Shipping." The application falsely certified underthe penalty of

perjury that the business's gross revenues for the 12 months prior to the January 31, 2020, totaled

$50, 000. The SBA denied his application based on unsatisfactory credit history.

First Cross River Bank PPP Application

18. On February21, 2021, MADUMELUsubmitted a PPPapplicationthrough Cross

River Bank for the business "Uncle Sonny Traveling and Shipping"with anEmployer

IdentificationNumber (EIN) ending x0267. As part ofthe application, MADUMELUconfirmed

thatthe information he provided in the applicationwas accurate and complete.

19. In support of his PPP application, MADUMELU submitted a false and fraudulent

2019 Schedule C that purported to show"Uncle Sonny Traveling and Shipping"had earned

$117,649 in gross receipts or sales. In fact, the business did not have that amount in gross

receipts or sales. WhenMADUMELUfiled his U. S. IndividualIncome Tax Return for tax year

2019, he attached only one Schedule C, which reported $500 in gross receipts or sales.

20. In support ofhis PPPapplication, MADUMELUalso submitted a false and

fraudulent IRS Form 940. The Form 940 included the EW ending x0267, and the signature on

this form was dated March 9, 2020. In fact, however, theEW ending x0267 was not issued by

4
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the IRS until June 29, 2020-more than 3 months after the date on the false and fraudulent Form

940. In addition,the Form 940 that MADUMELUsubmitted in support ofthe PPP application

was never filed with the IRS.

21. This PPPapplicationwith Cross River Bankwas approved but never paid.

Transportation Alliance Bank PPP Application

22. OnFebruary25, 2021, MADUMELUsubmitted a PPPapplicationthrough

Transportation Alliance Bank, Inc., using his own name as a sole proprietorship. As part ofthe

application, MADUMELUconfirmed that the informationhe provided in the applicationwas

true and accurate in all material respects.

23. In support ofhis PPP application, MADUMELUsubmitted a false and fraudulent

2019 Schedule C that purported to show"Sonny Star Cleaners"had earned $108,913 in gross

receipts or sales. In fact, the business did not have that amount in gross receipts or sales. When

MADUMELUfiled his U. S. IndividualIncome Tax Return for tax year 2019, he attachedonly

one ScheduleC, whichreported $500 in gross receipts or sales.

24. This PPP application was approved. On February 26, 2021, Transportation

Alliance Bank sent $20, 050 to a Wright Patt Credit Union account in the control of

MADUMELU.

25. On September 10, 2021, the SBA paid Transportation Alliance Bank, Inc., for

forgiveness of the PPP loan.

Second Cross River Bank PPP Application

26. On March 13, 2021, MADUMELU submitted a second PPP application through

Cross River Bank for the business "Uncle Sonny Traveling and Shipping"with anEW ending

x0267. As part ofthe application, MADUMELUconfirmed that the information he provided in

the application was accurate and complete.
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27. In support ofhis PPPapplication, MADUMELUsubmitted the same false and

fraudulent 2019 Schedule C that he had submitted with his first Cross River Bank PPP

application.

28. In support of his PPP application, MADUMELU also submitted the same false

and fraudulent Form 940 that he had submitted with his first Cross River Bank PPP application.

29. This PPP applicationwith Cross River Bank was approved. OnMarch 18, 2021,

Cross River Bank sent $70, 184.37 to a JPMorganChasebank account in the control of

MADUMELU.

30. On June29, 2021, the SBApaid Cross River Bank for forgiveness ofthe PPP

loan.

Funding Circle PPP Application

31. On April 28, 2021, MADUMELU signed a PPP application through Funding

Circle for the business "Transworld Travel & Transportation. " As part ofthe application,

MADUMELUconfirmedthat the informationhe provided in the applicationwas true and

accurate in all material respects.

32. In support of his PPP application, MADUMELU submitted a false and fraudulent

2019 Schedule C that purported to show "Transworld Travel & Transportation" had earned

$732, 683 in gross receipts or sales. In fact, however, the actual 2019 Schedule C that

MADUMELUsubmitted to the IRS for tax year 2019 reported $500 in gross receipts or sales.

33. In support of his PPP application, MADUMELU submitted false and fraudulent

IRS Forms 941 for certain quarters. The Forms 941 included an EIN ending x8154, andthe

signatures on the forms had dates ranging between April 22, 2019, and April 10, 2020. In fact,

however, theEW ending x8154was not issuedby the IRS until March2021. In addition, the
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Forms 941 that MADUMELU submitted in support of the PPP application were never filed with

the IRS.

34. This PPPapplicationwas approved. On April 30, 2021, Funding Circle sent

$142,690 to a PNC Bank account in the control ofMADUMELU.

35. OnAugust 6, 2021, the SBApaidFunding Circle for forgiveness ofthe PPPloan.

Transportation Alliance Bank Second Draw PPP Application

36. On May 21, 2021, MADUMELUsubmitted a seconddrawPPP application

through Transportation Alliance Bank, Inc., using his own name as a sole proprietorship. As part

of the application, MADUMELU confirmed that the information he provided in the application

was true and accurate in all material respects.

37. In support of his Transportation Alliance Bank second draw PPP application,

MADUMELU submitted the same false and fraudulent 2019 Schedule C that he had submitted

with his original Transportation Alliance Bank PPPapplication.

38. This second draw PPP application was approved. On May 25, 2021,

Transportation Alliance Bank sent $20,833 to a WrightPatt Credit Union accountin the control

ofMADUMELU.

39. On September 10, 2021, the SBA paid Transportation Alliance Bank, Inc., for

forgiveness of the second draw PPP loan.
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EXECUTIONOF THE FRAUD SCHEME

40. On or about each of the dates set forth below, in the Southern District of Ohio and

elsewhere, MADUMELU, for the purpose of executing the scheme described above and

attempting to do so, caused to be transmitted by means of wire communication in interstate

commerce the signals and sounds described below for each count, each transmission constituting

a separate count:

Count Date Description

1 July 4, 2020 Electronic submission of first EIDL application

2 July 12, 2020 Electronic submission of second EIDL application

3 February 21, 2021 Electronic submission of first PPP application to Cross
River Bank

4 February 25, 2021 Electronic submission of PPP application to
Transportation Alliance Bank, Inc.

5 March 13, 2021 Electronic submissionof secondPPP applicationto
Cross River Bank

6 April 28, 2021 Electronic submission ofPPP application to Funding
Circle

7 May 21, 2021 Electronic submission of second draw PPP application to
Transportation Alliance Bank, Inc.

All in violation of 18 U. S. C. § 1343.
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COUNTS 8-15
(Concealment Money Laundering)

41. Paragraphs 1 through 40 are incorporatedhere.

42. On each date set forth below, in the Southern District of Ohio and elsewhere,

SONNY MADUMELU did knowingly conduct and attempt to conduct a financial transaction

affecting interstate and foreign commerce, whichinvolved the proceeds of a specifiedunlawful

activity- namely, the Wire Fraudoffenses set forth in Counts 1 through 7 ofthis Indictment-

knowingthat the transactionwas designedin whole and in part to conceal and disguise, the

nature, location, source, ownership, and control ofthe proceeds of said specifiedunlawful

activity andthat while conducting and attempting to conduct such financial transactionknewthat

the property involved in the financial transaction represented the proceeds of some form of

unlawful activity, eachtransaction constituting a separate count:

Count Date Amount Financial Transaction

8 March 2, 2021 $15,000 Withdrawal from Wright Patt Credit Union account

9 March22, 2021 $43, 000 Outgoingwire transfer from JPMorganChaseBank
account, with wire reference "Family Expenses"

10 May 5, 2021 $11,000 Withdrawal from PNC Bank account

11 May 6, 2021 $11,000 Withdrawal from PNC Bank account

12 May 10, 2021 $45,000 Withdrawal from PNC Bank account

13 May 11, 2021 $26,000 Withdrawal from PNC Bank account

14 June 7, 2021 $10,000 Withdrawal from Wright Patt Credit Union account

15 June 9, 2021 $7,000 Withdrawal from Wright Patt Credit Union account

All in violation of 18 U. S. C. § 1956(a)(l)(B)(i).
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FORFEITUREALLEGATION

43. Paragraphs 1 through 40 are incorporatedhere.

44. Upon conviction ofany ofthe Wire Fraudoffenses alleged in Counts 1 through 7

of this Indictment, SONNY MADUMELU shall forfeit to the United States, under 18 U. S. C.

§ 981(a)(l)(C) and 28 U. S. C. § 2461(c), any and all property constituting or derived from

proceeds traceable to such violation, including but not limited to a sum of money equal to

$253,757 in United States currency in the fonn of a forfeiture moneyjudgment.

45. If, as a result of any act or omission ofMADUMELU, the forfeitable property so

described, or any portion thereofcannot be located upon the exercise ofdue diligence; has been

transferred or sold to, or depositedwith a third party; has beenplacedbeyondthejurisdiction of

the court; has been substantially diminishedin value; or has beencommingled with other

property which cannot be divided without difficulty, it is the intent of the United States, pursuant

to 21 U. S. C. § 853(p) as incorporated by 28 U. S. C. § 2461(c), to seek forfeiture of any other

property ofMADUMELUup to the value ofthe subject property.

Forfeiture in accordance with 18 U. S. C. § 981(a)(l)(C) and 28 U. S. C. § 2461(c), and
Rule 32. 2 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.

A TRUE BILL

s/Foreperson
FOREPERSON

DOMINICK S. GERACE II
Unitoil States A<ttorne^

(A^y
PEfER K. ^LEN?i?^A(Py'LEGATE (0088708)
Assistant United State^Attorney

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