A Richmond County woman has been handed a 32-month sentence in federal prison for her role in defrauding a pandemic relief program intended to aid small businesses during the height of the COVID-19 crisis. Kameka Bausley, aged 43, was also ordered to pay restitution of $71,933 and will face three years of supervised release after her prison term, as per U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg for the Southern District of Georgia.
Details from the court documents show Bausley, who worked for the U.S. Postal Service and was receiving workers' compensation benefits, submitted falsified revenue and expense information for her catering business. She did this to secure loans from the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and through the Paycheck Protection Program, which were part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act Programs initialized to support businesses during the pandemic. The fraudulent activities led to Bausley illicitly receiving nearly $72,000.
"Congress provided more than $600 billion in funding to help small businesses struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic," stated U.S. Attorney Steinberg, as reported by the Department of Justice. This federal investment, however, became a beacon for fraudsters, prompting strict action from law enforcement agencies determined to uphold the integrity of such relief efforts.
Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Jonathan Ulrich, expressed the agency's commitment to prosecuting such fraud. "This sentencing underlines our dedication to holding people accountable who exploit federal relief programs for personal gain," Ulrich remarked, as noted by the Department of Justice. The prosecution's diligence reflects a broader initiative to prevent misuse of funds that are essential for legitimate victims of the pandemic's economic fallout.
The investigation leading to Bausley's conviction was a coordinated effort between the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and Assistant U.S. Attorney George J.C. Jacobs III, who represented the United States in the case. The Department of Justice continues to encourage the public to report allegations of COVID-19 related fraud to the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline or through the NCDF Web Complaint Form available online for those who might witness similar abuses.
