Guilty Plea Agreement — U.S. v. Artis Taylor (E.D. Mo.)

Summary

A guilty plea agreement between the United States and Artis Taylor, Case 1:25-cr-00056-SNLJ, filed July 24, 2025 as Doc. #: 26 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. Artis Taylor agrees to plead guilty to the indictment, which charges making a false statement to a financial institution and wire fraud, and to pay $19,791.00 in restitution to the United States of America; the government agrees to bring no further federal prosecution in the District on the underlying facts. In the agreed facts, Taylor did not own or operate an eligible business, submitted a fraudulent IRS Schedule C, and applied through an internet portal for a PPP loan with Benworth Capital Partners, LLC. The parties estimate a Total Offense Level of 9, including 4 levels because the loss exceeded $15,000.00.

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Cite this document

“Guilty Plea Agreement — U.S. v. Artis Taylor (E.D. Mo.).” Original at ecf.moed.uscourts.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/court-filing-usa-v-taylor-dkt-26-e-d-mo-258f6a6023/, SHA-256 8ca275b0b74d4cae99dac1105749e61d99ea810b8e64f651f7a007cb377b3328.

Full text

Case: 1:25-cr-00056-SNLJ Doc. #: 26 Filed: 07/24/25 Page: 1 of 11 PageID #:
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FILED

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT JUL 24 2025
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI U. S. DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHEASTERN DIVISION EASTERN DISTRICT OF MO
CAPE GIRARDEAU
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )
)
Plaintiff, )
) NO. 1:25 CR 56 S LJ
V. )
)
ARTIS TAYLOR, )
)
Defendant. )

GUILTY PLEA AGREEMENT

Come now the parties and hereby agree, as fo llows:

1. PARTIES:

The parties are the defendant Artis Taylor, represented by defense counsel Phillip R.

Dormeyer, and the U nited States of America, (hereinafter "government"), represented by the

Office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri. This agreement does

not, and is not intended to, bind any governmental office or agency other than the United States

Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri. The Court is neither a party to nor bound by this

agreement.

2. GUILTY PLEA:

Pursuant to Rule 1 l(c)(l)(A), Federal Rul es of Criminal Procedure, in exchange for

defendant's voluntary plea of guilty to the indictment, the government agrees that no further

federal prosecution of the defendant will be brought in this District relative to the underlying

facts supporting the charges in the indictment herein , of which the government is aware at this

time. The defendant also agrees to pay $19,791.00 in restitution to the United States of America
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as a part of thi s plea.

Furthermore, the parti es agree th at either party may requ est a sentence above or below the

U.S. Sentencing G uidelines range (combination of Total Offense Level and Criminal History

Category) ultimate ly determined by th e Co urt pursuant to any chapter of the Guid elines, Title 18

United States Code, Section 3553 , or any other provision or ru le of law not addressed here in . The

parties further agree that notice of any such request w i11 be given no later than ten (10) days prior

to sentencing and that sa id notice shall spec ify th e legal and factual bases for the req uest.

3. ELEMENTS:

The crime of making a false statement to a finan c ial instituti on, as charged in Co unt I of

the Indictment, has three e lements, wh ich are: One, the defendant knowingly made fa lse

statements, name ly that the defendant was the owner of a qualifying sma ll business, and that PPP

loan proceeds wo uld be spent on perm iss ibl e expenses, to a financial institution; Two , the

defendant made the false statement for the purpose of influencing the action of the financial

institut ion upon an application for a PPP loan; and Three , that the financial institution was backed

by the Small Business Ad mini stration at the time the statement was made.

The crime of wire fraud , as charged in Count 11 of the indictment, has fo ur e lements, whic h

are: One, the defendant vo luntarily and intenti onall y participated in a scheme to obtai n money by

means of mater ial false representati ons, namely the submiss ion of a fraudu lent PPP Loan

ap plication, Two , the defendant did so with the intent to defraud ; Three , the defendant used, or

caused to be used, an interstate w ire communication , that is, use of an internet loan application

portal , in furth erance of so me essenti al step in the scheme; and Four, the scheme affected a

financial institution.

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4. FACTS:

The parties agree that th e facts in this case are as fo llows and that the Government would

prove these facts beyo nd a reaso nab le do ubt if the case were to go to trial. These facts may be

considered as relevant condu ct pursuant to Secti on lB 1.3:

T he Coro navirus A id , Re lief, and Eco nomi c Security ("CARES") Act is a federa l law

that was enacted in or aro und March of 2020 to prov ide emergency financial ass istance to the

millions of Americans suffering the eco nomi c impact caused by th e COVTD-19 pandemic. The

CARES Act authori zed the Sma ll Bu siness Admini strati on (S BA) to iss ue forgivable loans to

sma ll businesses fo r job retention and certa in oth er expe nses throu gh the Paycheck Protection

Program ("PPP ").

To obtain a PPP loa n, a qua li fying business was required to submit a PPP loan

app li cation, signed by an auth orized representat ive of the busi ness who was req uired to certify

that, amo ng other things, the sma ll business was in operat ion on February 15, 2020, and that

SBA loan proceeds w ill be used only for business-related purposes as spec ified in the loan

app lication and co nsistent w ith the Paycheck Protection Program Rul es, such as retaining

wo rkers, ma intai nin g payrol l, making mortgage interest pay ments, lease pay ments, and utility

payments. The program also required the submi ssion of certa in docu ments re lated to the identity

of the appli cant and th e expenses of th e business, Iike payro ll, that wo uld be covered by th e

loan s.

Artis Taylor of Caruth ersv ille, Pemiscot Co unty Missouri was identified as a person w ho

had filed via an interactive internet porta l, which co nstitutes an interstate wire communication, a

fraudu lent application fo r a PPP loan w ith Benworth Capital Partners, LLC, of Coral Gables

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F lorida. Benworth was an SBA app roved fin anc ia l insti tut ion fo r the PPP Loan program. Tay lor

did not own or operate an e li gible business and had submitted a fraudul ent IRS Schedul e C to

obtain the loan. Tay lor had also uploaded a copy of hi s photo and Misso uri driver' s license to the

website to prove hi s identity. Tay lor appl ied fo r a loan on Ap ril 27, 202 1, and B enworth depos ited

the proceeds, $19,79 1.00 into hi s bank acco unt on May 17, 202 1.

As a part of thi s plea the defend ant admits th at he knowi ngly made fa lse statements to a

fin anc ial institu tion fo r the pu rpose of obta ining a loan backed by the SBA. He a lso admits that he

vo lu ntaril y and intenti onall y partic ipated in a scheme to obtain money, affect ing a fin ancial

institutio n, by means of mak ing materia ll y fa lse rep resentations v ia an in terstate wire

co mmuni cati o n and that he did so with th e intent to defraud.

5. STATUTORY PENALTIES:

The defendant understands th at th e max imum poss ible penalty as to each Co unt herei n is

not more than 30 years of imp riso nm ent, a fin e of not more than $ 1,000,000, or both a fin e an d

impriso nm ent an d a term of superv ised re lease of not more than fi ve years.

In th e eve nt defend ant is subj ect to any un discharged or antic ipated term of impriso nment

imposed by any co urt, defend ant has been appri sed by counse l th at the sentence imposed in thi s

case may be imposed co nsec utive ly to the undi scharged or anti cipated term of imp risonment.

6. U.S. SENTE CING GUIDELINES: 2024 MANUAL:

T he defend ant understands th at thi s offense is affected by th e U.S. Sentenc ing Guidelines

and the actu al sentenc ing range is determined by both th e Tota l Offe nse Level and the Crimi na l

Hi story Category. T he parti es agree th at the fo llow ing are the U .S. Sentencing Gu ide lines Total

Offense Level prov isions that apply.

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(1) Chapter 2 Offense Conduct:

(a) Base Offense Level: The parties agree that th e base offense level is 7 as fou nd

in Section 2B 1.1 (a)( l ).

(b) Specific Offense Characteristics: The parties agree that the following

Specific Offense Characteristics app ly: 4 levels shou ld be added pursuant to Section

2B 1.1 (b )(1 )(C) because the loss exceeded $15 ,000.00.

(2) Chapter 3 Adjustments:

(a) Acceptance of Responsibility: The parties recommend that two levels shou ld

be deducted pursuant to Sentencing Guidelines Section 3El. l (a) because Defendant has clearly

demonstrated acceptance of responsibility.

T he parties agree that if Defendant does not abide by all of the agreements made within

this document, Defendant's fai lure to comply is grounds for the loss of acceptance of

responsibility pursuant to Sentencing Guidelines Section 3E l. 1. The parties further agree that

Defendant's e ligibi lity for a reduction pursuant to Sentencing Guidelines Section 3El. l is based

upon the information known at the present time and that any actions of Defendant which occur or

w hi ch become known to the United States subsequent to this agreement and are inconsistent with

Defendant's acceptance of responsibility including, but not limited to criminal conduct, are

grounds for the loss of acceptance of responsibility pursuant to Sentenci ng Guide lines Section

3El.l. In any event, the parties agree that all of the remaining provisio ns of this agreement

remain valid and in full force and effect.

(b) Other Adjustments: The parties recommend that no additio nal adjustments apply.

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(d) Criminal History: The determination of the defendant's Criminal Hi story Category

shall be left to the Co urt. Either party may challenge, before and at sentencing, the find ing of the

Presentence Report as to the defendant's criminal hi story and th e app licabl e category. The

defendant's criminal history is known to the defend ant and is substantially ava il able in the

Pretrial Services Report.

(e) Effect of Parties' U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Analysis: The parti es agree that the

Co urt is not bound by th e Guid el ines analysis agreed to herein. The parties may not have

fo reseen all applicable Guidelines. The Co urt may, in its di scretion, apply or not app ly any

Guideline desp ite the agreement herein and the parti es shall not be permitted to w ithdraw from

the plea agreement.

7. WAIYER OF APPEAL AND POST-CONVICTION RIGHTS:

a. Appeal: The defendant has been fully appri sed by defense co unsel of the defendant's

rights concerning appeal and fully understand s the ri ght to appeal the sentence und er T itle 18,

United States Code, Section 3742.

(1) Non-Sentencing Issues: The parties wa ive all rights to appeal all non-juri sdicti onal,

non-sentencing issues, in cluding, but not limited to, any iss ues relating to pretri a l motions,

discovery and the gui lty pl ea, the constitutionality of the statute(s) to which the defendant is

pleading guilty and whether defendant's co nduct fa ll s w ithin the scope of the statute(s)

(2) Sentencing Issues: In the event the Court accepts the plea, accepts th e U.S.

Sentenc ing Guidelines Total Offense Level agreed to herei n, and, after determining a Sentenci ng

Guidelines range, sentences the defendant w ithin or below that range, then, as part of this

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agreement, the defendant hereby wa ives all rights to appeal all sentencing issues other than

Criminal History, but only if it affects the Base Offense Level or Crim inal History Category.

Similarly, the Government hereby waives all rights to appeal all sentenc ing issues other than

Criminal History, provided the Court accepts the plea, adopts th e agreed Total Offense Level and

sentences the defendant within or above that range.

b. Habeas Corpus: The defendant agrees to waive all rights to contest the conv iction or

sentence in any post-conviction proceeding, including one pursuant to Title 28, Un ited States

Code, Section 2255 , except for claims of prosecutorial misconduct or ineffective assistance of

counsel.

c. Right to Records: The defendant waives all rights, whether asserted directly or by a

representative, to request from any department or agency of the United States, any records

pertaining to the investigation and prosecution of this case, including any records that may be

sought under the Freedom oflnformation Act, Title 5, United States Code, Section 522, or the

Privacy Act, Title 5, United States Code, Section 552(a).

8. OTHER:

a. Disclosures Required by the United States Probation Office: The defendant agrees

to truthfully complete and sign forms as required by the Un ited States Probation Office prior to

sentencing and consents to the release of these forms and any supporting documentation by the

Un ited States Probation Office to the government.

b. Civil or Administrative Actions not Barred; Effect on Other Governmental
Agencies:

Nothing contained herein limits the rights and authority of the United States to take any

civi l, tax, immigration/deportation or administrative action against the defendant.

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c. Supervised Release: Pursuant to any superv ised re lease term , th e Co urt w ill impose

stand ard conditi ons upon the defendant and may impose spec ial cond iti ons re lated to the crime

the defendant com mitted. These co nditions w ill be restrictions on the defendant to wh ich the

defendant w ill be required to adhere. Violation of the conditions of superv ised release res ultin g

in revocation may require the defendant to serve a term of imprisonment eq ual to the length of

the term of superv ised release, but not greater than the term set forth in T itle 18, Uni ted States

Code, Section 3583(e)(3), without credit for the time served after release. The defend ant

understands that parole has been abo lished .

d. Mandatory Special Assessment: Pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section

3013 , the Co urt is required to impose a mandatory spec ial assessment of $ 100 per count for a

total of $200, wh ich the defendant agrees to pay at the time of se ntencing. Money paid by the

defendant toward any restituti on or fine imposed by the Court shall be first used to pay any

unpaid mandatory spec ia l assessment.

e. Possibility of Detention: The defendant may be subj ect to immediate detention

pursuant to the prov isions of T itle 18, United States Code, Section 3143.

f. Fines, Restitution and Costs oflncarceration and Supervision: The Court may

impose a fine , costs of incarceration and costs of superv ision. The defendant agrees that any fine

imposed by the Co urt wi ll be due and payab le immedi ately . The defendant agrees to pay

$ 19,791.00 in restitution to the Un ited States of America.

g. Forfeiture: The defendant knowingly and vo luntari ly waives any right, title, and interest

in all items se ized by law enforce ment officials during the co urse of their in vestigatio n, whethe r

or not they are subject to forfe iture, and agrees not to contest th e vesting of title of such items in

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the United States. The defendant agrees to aband on [his/her] interest in a ll seized items and further

agrees that said items may be di sposed of or destroyed by law enforcement officials in any manner

w ithout furth er notice. By abandoning these items, the defendant wa ives any future ri ghts to

rece ive additi onal notice, a valuation of the items, or th e op portuni ty to submit a c lai m to contest

the disposition or destruction of the items that may exist under any policies or proced ures of the

se izing age ncy( ies ).

9. ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND WAIVER OF THE DEFENDANT'S RIGHTS:

In pleading guilty, the defendant acknowledges, fully understands and hereby waives his

rights, inc luding but not limited to: th e ri ght to plead not gu ilty to the charges; the right to be

tried by a jury in a public and speedy trial; the ri ght to file pretrial motions, including motions to

suppress or exclude ev idence; the right at such trial to a pres umpti on of innocence; the ri ght to

require the gove rnm ent to prove the elements of the offe nses charged against the defendant

beyond a reasonable doubt; the right not to testify; the right not to present any ev idence; the right

to be protected fro m compel led self-incrimination; the ri ght at trial to co nfront and cross-

examine adverse w itnesses ; the right to testify and present ev idence and the right to compe l the

attendance of w itnesses. The defendant further understands that by this guilty p lea, the

defendant express ly waives all the rights set forth in this paragraph.

The defendant full y und erstands that the defend ant has the right to be represented by

counsel, and if necessary, to have the Court appoint co unsel at tri al and at every other stage of

the proceeding. The defe ndant's co unsel has explained these ri ghts and the co nseq uences of the

waiver of th ese ri ghts. The defendant fully understands that, as a resu lt of the guilty plea, no trial

w ill , in fact, occur and that th e on ly action remaining to be taken in this case is the imposition of

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the sentence.

The defendant is ful ly satisfi ed with the representation received from defense co un se l.

The defendant has reviewed the government's ev idence and discussed the governm ent's case and

all possible defenses and defense w itnesses with defen se co unse l. Defense counsel has

co mplete ly and satisfactoril y explored a ll areas which the defendant has requ ested relative to the

government's case and any defenses.

The term s and co nditions contained in thi s stipul ation constitute th e onl y plea offer wh ich

has been tend ered to the defendant by the Governm ent herei n. Defendant has fully di scussed the

terms and conditions of the offer w ith counse l and the defendant und erstands and agrees to the

same.

10. VOLUNTARY NATURE OF THE GUILTY PLEA AND PLEA AGREEMENT:

This document constitutes th e entire agreement between the defendant and the

government, and no other promises or inducements have been made, directly or indi rectl y, by

any agent of th e government, including any Department of Justice attorn ey, co ncern ing any plea

to be entered in thi s case. In addition, the defendant states that no perso n has, directly or

indirectly, threatened or coerced the defendant to do or refrain from doing anything in

connection w ith any aspect of this case, including enteri ng a plea of guilty.

The defe ndant acknowledges havi ng vo luntari ly entered into both the plea agreement and

the gu ilty plea. The defendant further acknow ledges that this guilty plea is made of the

defendant's own free wi ll and that the defend ant is, in fact, guilty .

11. CONSEQUENCES OF POST-PLEA MISCONDUCT:

After pleading guilty and before sentencing, if defendant comm its any crim e, other than
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min or traffi c offenses, vio lates any cond itions of re lease th at res ul ts in revocation, violates any

term of thi s guil ty-plea agreement, intenti onall y prov ides misleadin g, incomplete or untruthful

info rmation to the U.S. Pro bati on Offi ce or fa il s to appear fo r se ntencing, th e U nited States, at its

opti on may be re leased from its obligati ons und er this agreement. T he Governm ent may al so, in

its di screti on, proceed with thi s agreement and may advocate for any sentencing posit ion

supported by the facts, including but not limited to obstruction of justice and denia l of

acceptance of responsibility .

12. NO RIGHT TO WITHDRAW GUILTY PLEA:

Pursuant to Rul e 11 (c) and (d), Federal Rul es of Crimina l Procedure, the defendant

und erstand s that there w ill be no ri ght to w ithdraw th e pl ea entered und er thi s agreement, except

w here the Co urt rej ects those portions of the plea agreement whi ch deal with charges the

government agrees to di smi ss or not to bring.

Date
Ass istant U ni ted States Attorn ey
555 Independ ence Street, Suite 3000
Cape G irardeau, Missouri 63703

Date
~2,_,.,../J(
1s ~ lor
Defend ant

Phillip R. Dormeyer
Attorney at Law
107 S. Broadview
Cape G irardeau, Misso uri 63703

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