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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WBRC) – Two Tuscaloosa men have been sentenced in unrelated cases for their roles in COVID-19 program fraud.
Both cases defrauded the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Kenzarian Lemark Harris, 38, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for PPP fraud. Harris pleaded guilty to wire fraud in November 2023. According to the plea agreement, Harris submitted false and fraudulent PPP loan applications in February 2021 and received PPP loans totaling more than $20,833. Harris’ loan application includes fraudulent tax and bank records, as well as information about his business being operated, the business having paid employees, and the PPP funds being used to retain workers. It contained several misstatements, including that the information provided to Harris was not included. The loan application was true and accurate.
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Reginald Dwayne Rose Jr., 26, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for PPP loan fraud. Mr. Rose pleaded guilty to wire fraud in October 2023. According to the plea agreement, Mr. Rose applied for and received $11,770 in fraudulent PPP loans between April and June 2021. Rose claimed he owned and operated a non-existent carpet cleaning business, and his application included fraudulent tax and bank records.
The court also ordered Messrs. Harris and Rose to pay the full amount of their PPP loans, plus interest, to the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Across the country, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies are on high alert, investigating reports of individuals and businesses engaging in a wide range of fraudulent and criminal activities. Learn more about these scams here.
Anyone with information regarding allegations of attempted fraud related to COVID-19 should call the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline at 866-720-5721 or file an NCDF web complaint here You can report using the form.
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