An Ann Arbor woman has pleaded guilty to fraudulently securing Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel disclosed. Fifty-six-year-old Yulonda Eckel admitted to obtaining two PPP loans by falsely claiming she operated a business with over $100,000 in gross income, when, in fact, no such business existed.
Investigations into Eckel’s financial deception revealed that she did not own the sole proprietorship she had claimed. As a result, she pleaded guilty to two counts of False Pretenses ($1,000-$20,000) and one count of Making/Permitting a False Tax Return. Eckel has agreed to repay $47,660, having already paid $25,827 prior to her plea, as reported by Michigan's Attorney General's office.
"Funds from government programs designed to support small businesses should not be siphoned away by individuals for their own personal gain," Nessel stated, appreciating the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, a key player in securing Eckel's plea. Nessel reiterated her department's dedication to safeguarding taxpayer money and government aid, as per the release from Michigan's Attorney General's office.
Eckel is scheduled to be sentenced on January 16, 2025, in the 22nd Circuit Court in Washtenaw County, with Judge Arianne Slay overseeing the proceedings. The outcome of the case is expected to bring an end to her fraudulent attempt to misappropriate government emergency funds intended to support small businesses during a period of significant economic hardship.
