A Flora woman pleaded guilty today to carrying out a scheme to defraud the COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
According to court documents, 34-year-old Tarshuana Thomas, of Flora, fraudulently applied for two PPP loans.
Thomas claimed to be the sole proprietor of a dog breeding and sitting service. From those fraudulently obtained funds, Thomas received $12,586, which she spent on personal, non-business related expenses. He was employed as a Correctional Officer with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Federal Correctional Complex (FCC) Yazoo City when she applied for the loans.
Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced on February 16, 2023 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Purdie is prosecuting the case.
