Former police officers, including a former military policeman in the United States Army, have been convicted in a COVID-19 loan scheme that sought to obtain $6 million in forgivable loans and grants.
The scheme, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, involved five former police officers who attempted to defraud the U.S. government through the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.
Former Fulton County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Deputy Katrina Lawson was found guilty in federal district court of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering in connection with the wide-ranging scheme.
Lawson recruited people to provide her with their personal and banking information. With the information, Lawson would complete fraudulent loan applications to the Small Business Administration for loans or grants.
The woman managed to recruit more than 200 people, including three active sheriff’s deputies and a former U.S. Army military policeman.
While the group attempted to obtain over $6 million, they ultimately stole over $3 million, with Lawson flagrantly spending nearly $100,000. She spent $75,000 on a Mercedez-Benz, $13,500 on a Kawasaki motorcycle, and even $9,000 on liposuction.
The fraud scheme was discovered during a different investigation into narcotics trafficking, in which the U.S. Postal Inspection Service was searching the house of a woman named Alicia Quarterman. In her phone and notebook, authorities discovered evidence of the loan scheme masterminded by Lawson, who is Quarterman’s relative and best friend.
Investigators then uncovered Lawson’s plans after seizing her cell phone as part of the investigation.
Co-defendants were previously convicted in the same case on charges such as conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering and more.
The co-conspirators include Lawson’s relatives named Alicia, Katie, and Tranesha Quarterman. Tranesha was formerly a military police member. Additional named co-conspirators included India Middleton, a former Arlington County sheriff’s deputy, Jeffrey Moffett, and Stephanie Cooper.
Moffett is a former Fulton Country sheriff’s deputy, while Cooper remains a current Fulton County sheriff’s deputy.
The case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces effort.
The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office did not respond to a request for comment.
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