Florida attorney sentenced to federal prison for role in COVID-19 fraud scheme
Summary
A press release of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Georgia dated Wednesday, April 17, 2024, announcing that Shaquandra Woods, 41, of Jacksonville, Fla., an attorney, was sentenced to 75 months in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud related to a federal COVID-19 small business relief program. It states that Judge R. Stan Baker, who presided over the four-day trial at which a jury convicted her in December 2023, ordered her to pay $42,848 in restitution and to serve three years of supervised release. The release quotes U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg, who says Woods filed fraudulent applications for COVID-19 relief funds for herself and for others, and describes the Economic Injury Disaster Loans provided by the SBA under the CARES Act.
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Press Release Florida attorney sentenced to federal prison for role in COVID-19 fraud scheme Wednesday, April 17, 2024 For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Georgia Defendant was convicted at trial in December 2023 SAVANNAH, GA: A Florida attorney has been sentenced to federal prison and ordered to pay restitution for participating in a scheme to illegally obtain funding from a federal COVID-19 small business relief program. Shaquandra Woods , 41, of Jacksonville, Fla., was sentenced to 75 months in prison for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker, who presided over the four-day trial in which a federal jury convicted Woods, also ordered her to pay $42,848 in restitution and to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of her prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. “Shaquandra Woods prolifically filed fraudulent applications for COVID-19 pandemic relief funds for herself and for others,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to prosecute those who engage in such self-enriching behavior at taxpayers’ expense.” As authorized by the CARES Act, the Small Business Administration (SBA) provided Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to eligible small businesses experiencing substantial financial interruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Woods, an attorney licensed to practice law in Florida and Georgia, completed at least nine applications for EIDL funding for herself and others, fabricating and submitting false documents to support the applications. As a result of the fraudulent applications, Woods was successful in obtaining more than $300,000 for herself. “Woods will now pay the price for stealing pandemic relief funds that others needed to keep a business open or to keep a roof over their heads,” said Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Will Clarke of FBI Atlanta’s Savannah Resident Agency. “Federal programs such as these are set up to help those in need, not to benefit criminals. Prosecution of those who illegally obtain government benefits will continue to be a priority for our office.” “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that those who defraud SBA’s programs will be held accountable,” said Amaleka McCall-Braithwaite, Special Agent in Charge of the Eastern Region of the SBA Office of Inspector General. “Our office will remain steadfast in pursuing those who exploit such vital resources for personal gain, ensuring accountability and justice for the American taxpayer. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s office and our law enforcement partners for their unwavering commitment to pursuing justice in this case.” The case was investigated by the FBI and the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan C. Grover and Former Senior Litigation Counsel Jenna G. Solari. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . Contact Barry L. Paschal, Public Affairs Officer: 912-652-4422 Updated April 17, 2024 Topics Coronavirus Disaster Fraud Components Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) USAO - Florida, Middle USAO - Georgia, Southern Press Release Number: 22-24 Related Content Press Release Coffee County man sentenced to federal prison for illegally obtaining COVID-19 pandemic relief funds A Coffee County man was sentenced to federal prison and ordered to pay more than $1.3 million in restitution for fraudulently obtaining funds intended to help businesses struggling financially during... April 12, 2024 Press Release Atlanta man sentenced to prison for fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 small-business relief funding An Atlanta man who provided phony documentation to receive small business pandemic relief payments has been sentenced to prison and ordered to repay the funding. March 18, 2024 Press Release Owner of tax preparation business sentenced to prison for defrauding pandemic relief funding programs A Georgia woman was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to repay more than half a million dollars she fraudulently obtained from COVID-19 small business relief programs. January 29, 2024
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