MOSES LAKE, Wash. — The next Eastern Washington resident to be indicted for fraudulently claiming PPP loan funding during the COVID-19 pandemic was a Moses Lake resident who falsified documents for a fake catering business.
As announced by the Office of Vanessa Waldref, the U.S. Attorney for Eastern Washington, 29-year-old Dondre Charles Jackson of Moses Lake pled guilty to fraudulently accepting $49,999 in COVID relief funding. Sentencing has been scheduled for early January of 2023.
RELATED: 2 people from West Richland indicted on COVID-19 Relief fraud
“COVID-19 relief programs quickly ran out of money due to the number of people and businesses that requested funding, which meant that some deserving small businesses were not able to obtain funding to keep their businesses in operation during the COVID-19 pandemic,” U.S. Attorney Waldref said. “We created the Eastern Washington COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force because it is critical to the strength and safety of our communities that we all work together to combat pandemic-related fraud and bring much-needed accountability to these programs.”
RELATED: Yakima woman indicted for racking up $59,000 in fraudulent COVID relief claims
Information disclosed during court proceedings confirmed that Jackson obtained two separate loans for a catering and food service business that was fictitious. Since his business was fake, Jackson wasn’t eligible for any COVID relief funding.
This is a breaking news story. An update and/or follow-up will be issued if further details are revealed.
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