A former Small Business Administration (SBA) employee has been convicted on multiple charges, including conspiracy to bribe a public official, bribery, and wire fraud, as reported by the United States Attorney's Office. Angela Chew, 60, of Leesburg, was found guilty by a federal jury and could potentially face considerable time behind bars with sentences ranging up to 5 years, 15 years per count, and 20 years per count for conspiracy, bribery, and wire fraud charges, respectively. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Chew's sentencing is on December 18.
The trial revealed that Chew, taking advantage of her role within the SBA, was part of a scheme to file fraudulent COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications, exchanging approval actions for bribes. The manipulation involved reactivating and altering loan statuses. One instance was a loan that the SBA had flagged as duplicate, but Chew subsequently reactivated it. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, this misconduct resulted in six EIDL applications being funded, causing a loss of over $800,000.
Inspector General Hannibal "Mike" Ware expressed that the conviction was a testament to their dedication to bringing those who abuse public trust to account. "This conviction underscores our commitment to holding all wrongdoers accountable, including those in positions of public trust like this former SBA employee," said Ware, per the Department of Justice press release. He emphasized the significance of the integrity of federal programs and the public's faith in them. Various law enforcement partners also expressed gratitude for their pledge to protect these institutions.
Chew was convicted thanks to a joint investigation by the SBA Office of Inspector General, the Secret Service, and the FBI. Prosecutors Amanda Daniels and Diane Hu hope this will discourage others from misusing their authority. Inspector General Hannibal "Mike" Ware reminded everyone that these crimes hurt taxpayers and damaged trust in SBA programs. In response to Chew's actions, federal agencies closely monitor disaster relief funds to prevent fraud.
