Source: Office of United States Attorneys
FORT WAYNE – Dashanae Hamlet-Davis, 26 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to a federal felony for wire fraud, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.
Hamlet-Davis was sentenced to 18 months of probation and ordered to pay $23,431.53 in restitution to the Small Business Administration.
According to documents in the case, Hamlet-Davis falsely claimed gross income for a business that did not exist when she applied for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. The PPP program provided loans to small businesses for job retention and other expenses as part the CARES Act and for emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hamlet-Davis falsely claimed that she was the sole proprietor of a retail business when in reality, no such business existed. As a result of her fraudulent representations, Hamlet-Davis received PPP funds which she used for her own benefit on personal items such as clothing, jewelry, electronics, and a vacation.
“This sentencing demonstrates the commitment of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) to investigate and bring to justice those who victimize the American taxpayer,” said Kelly Moening, TIGTA Special Agent-in-Charge. “Fraudulently applying for loans through a federal program meant to assist Americans in need will be met with aggressive investigation and prosecution. I want to thank our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their commitment to this goal.”
This case was investigated by the United States Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration with assistance from IRS Criminal Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin C. Sheridan.