Three Charged in Georgia $2M COVID-19 Relief Fraud Scheme

Salimot Akande, Garey Henderson, and Jacqueline Rollizo from metro Atlanta were federally charged with defrauding COVID-19 pandemic relief programs and laundering nearly $2 million in proceeds. The defendants allegedly secured approximately $1.6 million in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loans for seven businesses by submitting fabricated tax filings and false loan applications, with Akande and Henderson also receiving fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loans. After obtaining the funds, they reportedly moved the money through multiple bank accounts to conceal its true source and control. U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg and law enforcement officials condemned the scheme as a betrayal of public trust that siphoned resources from legitimate businesses during a national crisis. The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI, and is part of the Department of Justice's COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force efforts to combat pandemic-related fraud. Prosecutors have brought a 38-count indictment including charges of bank fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering.