In their plea agreements, each family member admitted to receiving money intended for businesses that did not exist.
DALLAS — Seven members of a Dallas-area family have admitted to orchestrating a scheme to defraud the federal government out of emergency pandemic relief funds through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), federal prosecutors announced.
On Wednesday, June 18, six family members: Lori Jackson, 63; Saidrick Jackson, 61; Saidrick Jackson II, 36; Saundria Jackson, 36; D’Andria Todd, 46; and Bianca Williams, 33—pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The final defendant, Valencia Williams, 53, entered her guilty plea the following day.
Federal authorities indicted the group in December 2023, charging them with conspiracy and wire fraud related to forgivable loans issued under the PPP. The program, launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, was designed to provide financial support to small businesses struggling to retain employees.
According to court documents, the group falsely claimed to operate sole proprietorships with monthly payrolls of about $8,000 to obtain emergency COVID-19 relief funds meant for struggling small businesses. They backed up those claims with falsified tax documents that misrepresented the nature and profitability of the businesses.
Federal agencies approved the loans based on the fabricated applications and deposited the funds into the defendants’ personal bank accounts. In their plea agreements, each family member admitted to receiving money intended for businesses that did not exist.
All seven defendants face up to five years in federal prison. Sentencing dates have not yet been scheduled.