A Jacksonville woman has been handed a two-year federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to charges of wire fraud and participating in a COVID relief fraud scheme. Crystal Denean Harvell, aged 37, was convicted of using fraudulent means to acquire Social Security numbers, which she then used to open lines of credit and gain a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan under false pretenses. U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger also ordered Harvell to pay restitution totaling $131,782.63, according to a U.S. Attorney's Office statement.
The court records reveal that from February 2016 until September 2019, Harvell, along with other accomplices, engaged individuals to acquire bogus credit under others' Social Security numbers. Jewelry and other items were purchased using these credit lines, and Harvell sold some goods over social media. The fraudulent activities caught up with her when she later submitted a PPP loan application, claiming to operate a nonexistent business. In the application, Harvell reportedly made multiple false statements about her supposed gross income and business expenses.
In pursuit of PPP loan forgiveness, Harvell boldly presented false claims of spending over $18,000 on payroll, despite her business being entirely fabricated. Her subterfuge initially succeeded; the Small Business Administration (SBA), deceived by her claims, not only approved the loan but also forgave it, based on her assertions that the funds were used for eligible purposes. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Secret Service – Jacksonville Field Office spearheaded the investigation that ultimately led to Harvell's prosecution by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
In a twist laden with irony, Harvell had initially managed to get the SBA's approval and forgiveness for her PPP loan, which totaled $20,415, despite her business existing solely on paper. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Harrington oversaw the asset forfeiture process. As restitution, the court ordered Harvell to pay back the ill-gotten gains plus the damage her scheme had caused to her victims and the U.S. government.
