Indianapolis Woman Sentenced to Prison for Submitting Fraudulent COVID-19 Relief Loan Applications

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Indianapolis, Indiana, has been sentenced in federal court to 12 months and one day in prison on her conviction of wire fraud, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Antranette Echols, 57, was also ordered to pay restitution of $373,690 to several financial institutions and the Small Business Administration, who were the victims in the fraud.

Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer imposed the sentence on Echols.

According to information presented to the Court, Echols prepared and submitted falsified COVID-19 pandemic relief loan applications on behalf of business borrowers, for which she took a fee. Some of the borrowers were located in the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

United States Attorney Olshan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Echols.