IRS employees stole COVID relief funds to bankroll extravagant lifestyles, Justice Department says

[mystery-ak]

October 4, 2022 6:43pm EDT
Five IRS employees stole COVID relief funds to buy Gucci, trips to Las Vegas, Justice Department says
The five current or former IRS employees live in Tennessee and Mississippi and spent the funds on luxury goods and trips, the Justice Department said.

By Louis Casiano FOXBusiness

Five current or former employees in Tennessee and Mississippi with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have been charged with scamming the federal government of hundreds of thousands of dollars in COVID-19 relief funds to bankroll extravagant lifestyles.

The suspects allegedly received money through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program, which were designed to help business owners meet their financial obligations during the pandemic.

"These individuals – acting out of pure greed – abused their positions by taking government funds meant for citizens and businesses who desperately needed it," said U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee Kevin G. Ritz.

The defendants allegedly submitted false loan applications that collectively sought more than $1 million. They used the money to purchase luxury cars and for travel, including trips to Las Vegas.

Brian Saulsberry, 46, of Memphis, Tennessee, is charged with two counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering. He worked for the IRS as a Program Evaluation and Risk Analyst in the Human Capital Office and submitted four EIDL applications. He allegedly received $171,400 and spent a portion of the money on a Mercedes-Benz and deposited additional funds into a personal investment account.

Courtney Quinshe Westmoreland, 38, of Cordova, Tennessee, is charged with three counts of wire fraud. She claimed she wasn't working while employed by the IRS, the Justice Department said. She used the $11,500 in loan funds for manicures and massages, and to purchase luxury clothing.

Fatina Hewitt, 35, of Olive Branch, Mississippi, is charged with one count of wire fraud. Hewitt spent $28,900 on Gucci clothes and a trip to Las Vegas, authorities said. 

Roderick DeMarco White II, 27, of Memphis, has pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Tina Humes, 56, of Memphis, also charged with a single count of wire fraud, allegedly spent $123,612 in loan funds on jewelry and trips to Las Vegas.

She has also pleaded guilty. Each suspect faces up to 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count and 10 years for money laundering.

more
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/five-irs-employees-stole-covid-relief-funds-buy-gucci-trips-las-vegas-justice-department-says

[mountaineer]

Here's the DOJ press release.

... According to court documents, the defendants allegedly obtained funds under the PPP and EIDL Program by submitting false and fraudulent loan applications that collectively sought over $1 million. They then used the loan funds for purposes not authorized by the PPP or EIDL Program, but instead for cars, luxury goods, and personal travel, including trips to Las Vegas.   ...

The five individuals charged are:

    Brian Saulsberry, 46, of Memphis, Tennessee, is charged with two counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering. Saulsberry was employed by the IRS as a Program Evaluation and Risk Analyst in the Human Capital Office. According to the indictment, Saulsberry submitted four fraudulent EIDL Program applications, seeking at least $501,400 in EIDL Program loans and obtaining $171,400 in loan funds. Saulsberry allegedly spent a portion of the funds on a Mercedes-Benz and deposited additional funds into a personal investment account.

    Courtney Quinshe Westmoreland, 38, of Cordova, Tennessee, is charged with three counts of wire fraud. Westmoreland was employed by the IRS as a Contact Representative in the Wage and Investment Service Centers Department. According to the indictment, Westmoreland submitted multiple fraudulent PPP and EIDL Program applications on behalf of a purported apparel business, for which she sought at least $32,500 in loans and obtained $11,500 in loan funds. Westmoreland allegedly used these funds for personal services, including manicures and massages, and to purchase luxury clothing. In addition, while employed full-time by the IRS, Westmoreland allegedly submitted fraudulent applications for unemployment insurance benefits to the Tennessee Department of Labor, in which she falsely claimed that she was not employed by the federal government. According to court documents, Westmoreland fraudulently obtained $16,050 in unemployment insurance benefits.

    Fatina Hewitt, 35, of Olive Branch, Mississippi, is charged with one count of wire fraud. Hewitt was employed by the IRS as a Management and Program Assistant in Information Technology. According to the information, Hewitt submitted multiple fraudulent EIDL Program applications on behalf of a purported fashion business, seeking $338,900 in EIDL Program loans and obtaining $28,900 in loan funds. Court documents allege that Hewitt spent the loan funds on Gucci clothing and a trip to Las Vegas. On October 4, 2022, Hewitt pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.

    Roderick DeMarco White II, 27, of Memphis, is charged with one count of wire fraud. White was employed by the IRS as a Contact Representative in the Wage and Investment Service Centers Department. According to the information, White submitted four fraudulent PPP and EIDL Program applications on behalf of a purported apparel business, seeking $113,311 in PPP and EIDL Program loans and obtaining $66,666 in loan funds. White allegedly spent the loan funds on personal items, including a Gucci satchel. On August 25, 2022, White pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.

    Tina Humes, 56, of Memphis, is charged with one count of wire fraud. Humes was employed by the IRS as a Lead Management and Program Assistant in the Human Capital Office. According to the information, Humes submitted four fraudulent PPP and EIDL Program applications, seeking $133,812 in loans and obtaining $123,612 in loan funds. Humes allegedly spent the funds on jewelry and trips to Las Vegas. On July 27, 2022, Humes pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. ...

[Kamaji]

And those are just the ones who were sloppy enough to get caught.

[EdinVA]

Federal employees never missed a paycheck the entire shutdown so why were they even allowed to apply for paycheck protection?
I smell a coverup...

[Kamaji]

Federal employees never missed a paycheck the entire shutdown so why were they even allowed to apply for paycheck protection?
I smell a coverup...

They submitted fraudulent applications.  There was very, very little due diligence done on the PPP loan applications, so a lot of fraudulent applications got through.

[cato potatoe]

Everyone knows the IRS is underfunded, and salaries are not great.  If they had just paid off a mortgage, or used the loot for something invisible, they might have gotten away with it. 

[christian]

Just one of the many debacles democrats are currently,and recently trying to ram down American people throats, especially the poorest Americans.