Bridget Davis and Joey Davis, residents of Marshall County, Mississippi, have been charged with fraud and conspiracy to fraudulently obtain government funds intended to protect employees of endangered businesses during the COVID pandemic through the Payroll Protection Program (“PPP”) of the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”).

The pair charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their involvement in the fraudulent application of PPP loans. The defendants are also charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering by participating in wire transfers involving proceeds of the fraud scheme.

The alleged scheme in the instant case was initially uncovered during the course of a civil investigation. The federal investigative agencies that assisted with this investigation emphasised their ongoing commitment to hold accountable those citizens who seek to fraudulently and unfairly profit from federal pandemic relief programs.