ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL CHARGES WILL COUNTY WOMAN OVER FRAUDULENT PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM LOANS

ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL CHARGES WILL COUNTY WOMAN OVER FRAUDULENT PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM LOANS

August 08, 2024

Chicago - Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged a suburban Will County woman alleging she fraudulently received two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for over $41,000 while employed by the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR).

The Attorney General's office charged Shepale Hicks, 44, of Monee, Illinois with one count of money laundering, one count of unlawful structuring of a currency transaction, one count of theft, two counts of financial institution fraud and two counts of loan fraud, which are all Class 2 felonies punishable by up to seven years in prison; two counts of wire fraud and two counts of forgery, which are all Class 3 felonies punishable by up to five years in prison; and four counts of filing a fraudulent income tax return, Class 4 felonies punishable by up to three years in prison. Sentences are served consecutively and are ultimately determined by the court. Hicks' next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 27.

"It is outrageous anyone, especially a state employee at an agency tasked with holding taxpayers accountable for following revenue laws, would take advantage of COVID-era assistance programs," Raoul said. "These programs were intended to help small businesses and unemployed Americans survive the pandemic. I will continue to ensure those who took advantage of the pandemic for financial gain are held accountable."

Attorney General Raoul's office alleges Hicks was employed by IDOR when she fraudulently applied for two PPP loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration by falsely claiming that she owned two businesses that did not exist. According to Raoul's office, Hicks received $20,833 in August 2020 and $20,832 in May 2021 based on the fraudulent applications.

The Attorney General's office is prosecuting this case based on a referral from IDOR.

The charges are the most recent action in Attorney General Raoul's ongoing efforts to hold individuals accountable for fraudulently collecting government assistance related to the pandemic. In June 2024, Raoul's office announced charges related to PPP loan fraud against 15 government employees and a former Cook County Sheriff's Office employee in July.

The public is reminded that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Assistant Attorney General Kiran Gupta is prosecuting the case for Raoul's Special Prosecutions Bureau.