Eleven Individuals Sentenced in Pandemic Relief Scheme (OIG-WS-2026-357)
Summary
Eleven Mobile, Alabama, residents were sentenced between June 30, 2026 and September 18, 2026 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama for taking part in a Paycheck Protection Program scheme, according to Amtrak Office of Inspector General web summary OIG-WS-2026-357. Ahmaud Edwards was sentenced to 15 months in prison, Tynessa Hollins and Eddie Mitchell to 30 days and the others to one day, each with five years of probation; restitution orders ranged from $14,445 (Briana Houston) to $28,822 (Jyretta Williams). The OIG says Alexis Edwards of Denver, Colorado prepared falsified PPP loan applications totaling approximately $328,000 for the defendants in exchange for approximately $34,000 in kickbacks, and previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. A total of 13 defendants have been charged, 12 of whom have pleaded guilty.
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ELEVEN INDIVIDUALS SENTENCED IN PANDEMIC RELIEF
SCHEME
Activity Date: September 18, 2026
Date Posted: October 12, 2026
Case Number: 23-0336-I
Web Summary: OIG-WS-2026-357
Eleven Mobile, Alabama, residents were sentenced between June 30, 2026, and September
18, 2026, in U.S. District Court, Southern District of Alabama, for participating in a
Paycheck Protection Program scheme.
• Markel Bell was sentenced to one day in prison, five years of probation, and was
ordered to pay $22,900 in restitution.
• Zykeria Brown was sentenced to one day in prison, five years of probation, and
was ordered to pay $22,796 in restitution.
• Sandria Davis was sentenced to one day in prison, five years of probation, and was
ordered to pay $22,548 in restitution.
• Wayne Dembert was sentenced to one day in prison, five years of probation, and
was ordered to pay $22,783 in restitution.
• Ahmaud Edwards was sentenced to 15 months in prison, five years of probation,
and was ordered to pay $22,987 in restitution.
• Tynessa Hollins was sentenced to 30 days in prison, five years of probation, and
was ordered to pay $17,849 in restitution.
• Shandreka Lee was sentenced to one day in prison, five years of probation, and
was ordered to pay $23,052 in restitution.
• Briana Houston was sentenced to one day in prison, five years of probation, and
was ordered to pay $14,445 in restitution.
• Juwan James was sentenced to one day in prison, five years of probation, and was
ordered to pay $22,616 in restitution.
• Jyretta Williams was sentenced to one day in prison, five years of probation, and
was ordered to pay $28,822 in restitution.
• Eddie Mitchell was sentenced to 30 days in prison, five years of probation, and
was ordered to pay $23,025 in restitution.
Our investigation found that Alexis Edwards, of Denver, Colorado, prepared falsified
PPP loan applications totaling approximately $328,000 for the defendants in exchange for
10 G Street, NE, 3W-300, Washington D.C., 20002
202.906.4600 / Fraud Hotline 800.468.5469
www.amtrakoig.gov
approximately $34,000 in kickbacks. Edwards previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to
commit wire fraud.
The case grew out of an Amtrak Office of Inspector general led investigation, with
support from the FBI Mobile Field Office, into a fraudulent PPP loan that Edwards helped
a Mississippi-based Amtrak employee obtain. A total of 13 defendants have been charged
in this case, 12 of whom have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
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