An Ocala woman has been indicted on charges related to COVID-19 relief fund fraud, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg's office disclosed. The individual, Lisa Yvette Starkes, aged 52, could face a maximum of 40 years in federal prison if convicted on both counts of wire fraud. Documents from the court reveal that Starkes allegedly executed a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration (SBA) during August 4, 2020, through April 12, 2021, by submitting false information via Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Starkes is accused of falsely inflating the payroll expenses of her business to acquire the loans, which were devised as economic relief efforts during the pandemic. In her banking record, there surfaced an electronic transfer amounting to $41,452—the same amount she's alleged to have unlawfully gained. Indictments such as this, however, are not an implication of guilt—and Starkes remains innocent until proven otherwise.
Further details provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office emphasize the cooperation between different governmental factions to address pandemic-related fraud. The COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, which was set up by the Attorney General on May 17, 2021, is at the forefront of these efforts. The task force not only pursues criminal elements but also reinforces preventive measures to shield relief programs from exploitation.
If individuals hold information regarding attempted fraud within pandemic initiatives, they are encouraged to report it via the Department of Justice's COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force. This can be done telephonically or through the NCDF Web Complaint Form, by calling the Department of Justice's National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline.
