An Orlando couple, Anthony and Lisa Terry, have consented to a sizable payout of $88,677.62 to clear up claims that they received funds improperly from the Payroll Protection Program (PPP), part of the economic relief efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. As reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office, the settlement involves two PPP loans each received by the Terrys totalling over $81,000 – funds they were not entitled to as individuals.
Falling outside the confines of small business eligibility, the loans were disbursed to the couple during June 2020 to April 2022. In what appears to be a swift response, cooperating with the investigation led by U.S. authorities, the Terrys have made the decision to resolve the issue financially. The United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, Gregory W. Kehoe emphasized, "The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to investigating and holding responsible those who failed to follow the rules of the PPP program." The investigation that brought the Terrys' loans to light was triggered by a prior criminal case involving a tax preparer sentenced for fraud related to disaster loan proceeds.
While the Terrys' repayment closes this chapter, it should be noted, as the U.S. Attorney's Office points out, that the civil claims settled by this agreement are only allegations; no formal determination or admission of liability has been made. Leading the charge on the investigation and resolution was Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Bloor, receiving support from the Small Business Administration's Office of General Counsel.
The Terrys found themselves in the government's crosshairs as an offshoot from a broader fraudulent scheme, a previous criminal case that revealed transgressions against the United States' COVID-related financial aid. Concerned citizens can play a role in uncovering such fraud by reporting tips to the Civil Division’s Fraud Section's webpage or filing complaints via the Department of Justice's National Center for Disaster Fraud Web Complaint Form. As part of the statement announcing the settlement, "We will continue to investigate and pursue and, where appropriate, federally prosecute those individuals and entities that engage in improper uses of PPP loan proceeds," Kehoe assured the public.
