Quentin Allen Jackson, 58, a former Harlem Globetrotter, has been sentenced to 84 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced today.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Jackson conspired with others to secure fraudulent PPP loans in the names of multiple companies under his control. After receiving the loan proceeds, Jackson followed instructions from co-conspirators to make it appear as though the companies were paying bi-weekly payroll to employees.
Jackson then instructed employees to cash payroll checks and return the illicit cash to him. He also acted as a middleman, recruiting additional fraudulent borrowers and earning fees for his efforts. Over a dozen individuals participated in the scheme, contributing to nearly $4 million in fraudulent PPP loan disbursements.
The U.S. Attorney, Michael F. Easley Jr., emphasized the gravity of Jackson’s actions, saying, “Jackson used his reputation as a former college point guard and Harlem Globetrotter to recruit individuals into this multi-million-dollar fraud scheme, taking advantage of the nation’s pandemic relief efforts.”
This seven-year prison sentence serves as a warning to others who exploited the PPP loan program during the pandemic.
