Joint national takedown: 40 U.S. Attorney\u2019s Offices, along with 20 federal and state investigative agencies, participate in two-month enforcement surge<\/em><\/p>\nFort Wayne, Indiana (September 16, 2026) \u2013 On September 14, 2026, U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred announced 12 indictments and 5 guilty pleas as part of a nationwide enforcement action led by the Justice Department\u2019s National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Small Business Administration, and the SBA Office of Inspector General targeting fraud in the SBA\u2019s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Indiana was a key participant in this surge effort. From June 12 to September 1, federal prosecutors across the country facilitated fraud enforcement actions spanning over 160 criminal defendants, including approximately 80 newly charged defendants, reaching approximately $245 million dollars in intended loss to American taxpayers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Paycheck Protection Program was designed to provide a lifeline to small businesses that were struggling to survive the COVID-19 pandemic. But fraudsters from all walks of life saw it as an opportunity to loot the public fisc and help themselves to money they did not earn. Their greedy actions had real consequences that deprived small businesses of the emergency relief they so desperately needed. Through no fault of their own, tens of thousands of businesses were forced to permanently closed during the pandemic, and the funds these fraudsters stole could have been used to keep those businesses afloat. Our office will continue to aggressively prosecute crimes like these against the American taxpayer and small businesses in the Northern District of Indiana. \u201cFor their dogged investigation of these cases, my sincere gratitude goes out to the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Homeland Security Investigations; the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General; the National Science Foundation, Office of Inspector General; the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General; the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General; and Amtrak, Office of Inspector General. For their relentless prosecution of these cases, I also thank Assistant United Attorneys Francis Sohn, Stacey R. Speith, Dawn R. Ransom, and Emily Morgan, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Steven J. Lupa, who serves as District Fraud Counsel,\u201d said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred.<\/p>\n
\u201cPandemic relief programs were created to support struggling businesses, not to enrich criminals,\u201d said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino. \u201cHSI Chicago will continue working with our federal partners to uncover fraud schemes, protect taxpayer dollars, and pursue those who exploited these programs.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPandemic loan relief was meant to keep American small businesses alive during government lockdowns\u2014not line the pockets of fraudsters,\u201d said Attorney General Todd Blanche. \u201cThe defendants charged during our summer surge allegedly fabricated businesses, submitted false payroll and revenue claims, stole identities, and concealed foreign ties on their applications\u2014 but they will now be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis summer surge shows what is possible when dedicated public servants across the country work together with a single purpose,\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. \u201cOur mission is clear: protect taxpayer funds, safeguard the integrity of federal relief programs, and deliver justice to those who exploited them. We will remain steadfast every day\u2014standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners\u2014to identify fraud, pursue those responsible, and restore confidence in the programs meant to help American small businesses thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cToday\u2019s announcement represents the largest-ever action against perpetrators of SBA fraud, with 870,000 suspended borrowers tied to $39 billion in suspected fraudulent PPP and COVID EIDL activity. In partnership with Vice President Vance and the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, we\u2019re putting fraudsters on notice: the federal government will no longer turn a blind eye to those who stole from taxpayers and exploited programs designed to sustain small businesses during the pandemic,\u201d said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. \u201cWith demand letters going out to suspected fraudsters, we\u2019re also sending a clear message that they must repay their debts or face Treasury collections and possible federal law enforcement. Under this Administration, the free ride is over. We are restoring accountability, recovering taxpayer dollars, and protecting SBA programs for the legitimate small businesses they were created to serve.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOperation No Doze brings a focused and coordinated approach to pursuing fraud in SBA\u2019s pandemic relief programs,\u201d said SBA Inspector General William Kirk. \u201cBy concentrating our investigative resources and working closely with SBA and our law enforcement partners, we are strengthening our ability to identify fraud, recover taxpayer funds, and hold accountable those who exploited programs created to help small businesses in a time of extraordinary need. This initiative makes clear that the passage of time does not diminish our commitment to accountability.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the Northern District of Indiana, U.S. Attorney Mildred announced that 17 defendants have been charged with or pleaded guilty to PPP-related fraud involving approximately $1,000,079 in alleged losses. The takedown included the following cases:<\/p>\n
United States v. Pu Wang & Rui Li<\/strong> (2:25-cr-136)<\/p>\nPu Wang and Rui Li are charged with fraudulently obtaining federal grant funds for their company, Vibronix, by falsely representing that the company had no Chinese affiliates and by certifying that the funded work was performed in the United States when most of the work was allegedly performed in China. In addition to allegedly defrauding the Small Business Innovation Research federal grant program, Wang also allegedly certified in PPP loan applications totaling approximately $102,397 that all covered employees had their primary residence in the United States. Wang was himself a covered employee and, according to the allegations, lived in China during the relevant period. Wang further allegedly certified that none of Vibronix\u2019s board members were residents of the People\u2019s Republic of China. Public SEC filings identified Wang as a Vibronix board member who was known to live in China at the time of the application for federal funds. According to the indictment, Wang had received an award in 2014 sponsored by the PRC to encourage Chinese citizens who study in the United States to return to China.<\/p>\n
United States v. Shywanna Dear<\/strong> (2:25-cr-69)<\/p>\nShywanna Dear is a former Amtrak employee who applied for or assisted with 22 fraudulent PPP loan applications attributed to herself and other individuals totaling approximately $435,415. She pled guilty to wire fraud in June 2026 will be sentenced later this year. She faces a maximum of 20 years in prison; a fine of up to $250,000; or both.<\/p>\n
United States v. Jerome Greer, et al<\/strong>. (1:26-cr-61, et al.)<\/p>\nJerome Greer and more than two dozen other defendants, all residents of Grant County, Indiana, have been charged in connection with a series of fraudulent PPP loans they obtained by providing their personal identifying information to a third party with knowledge that the third party would use that information to prepare fraudulent IRS tax forms and apply for the loans. The funds were deposited into the defendants\u2019 bank accounts, and they paid the third party a cut of the proceeds before using the rest for personal expenses. These defendants have been charged with wire fraud, making false statements to a federal agency, or both.<\/p>\n
An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.<\/p>\n
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\u201cFraud Division\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to\u202feliminate\u202ffraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.<\/p>\n
An indictment, information, or complaint\u202fis merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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