Three residents of Macomb County, Michigan, have entered guilty pleas in a scam netting over $3 million by exploiting the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a federal aid effort, according to an announcement by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. These fraudulent claims were designed to support businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet these individuals repurposed the funds for their own gain.
In details provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Rita Shaba, 39, and Samer Kammo, 45, both pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and bank fraud. They, along with Christina Anasi, 35, who had previously entered her plea, were involved in submitting false PPP loan applications for various businesses. The applications included incorrect payroll data and fictitious financial documents, which allowed them to illegally obtain the funds.
So far, law enforcement has recovered more than $2.1 million of the illicit funds. The PPP was a Congress-created lifeline during the economic upheaval triggered by the pandemic, intended to help businesses keep their workforce employed. Instead, these actions by the defendants diverted funds away from legitimate businesses in dire need of assistance.
U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. made the gravity of the crime clear, "While the numbers fraudsters used to illicitly enrich themselves were fake, the prison time they’re facing is very real. My office is committed to holding accountable all those who chose to exploit a global pandemic to steal from hardworking taxpayers," as quoted by the U.S. Attorney's Office. The defendants are slated for sentencing early next year, facing up to 30 years in prison each.
The investigation involved agents from the FBI and ICE HSI Detroit, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Yahkind is prosecuting the case. Sentencing dates are set for Shaba on January 5, 2026, Anasi on January 7, 2026, and Kammo on January 15, 2026.
