Jameela Gross, 28, of Boston, was sentenced in federal court for her role in submitting a fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan application, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts announced today. Gross was sentenced to time served, having already spent one day in custody, followed by three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $18,750 in restitution.
In April 2021, Gross applied for a PPP loan on behalf of a photography business that, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, did not exist. The application included several false statements, including fabricated income details for 2020 and misleading information about the intended use of the loan. Gross also submitted falsified tax documents to further support the fraudulent loan request.
As a result of the false application, Gross received a total of $18,750 in pandemic relief funds. She was arrested in February 2024, alongside more than 40 members of the Heath Street Gang who were facing charges for racketeering, drug trafficking, firearms offenses, and financial fraud, including COVID-19-related fraud.
The Heath Street Gang, active since the 1980s, has been linked to violent crime, drug distribution networks across Massachusetts, Maine, and California, and the illegal sale of substances like fentanyl and cocaine, often advertised through social media platforms.
Gross’s sentencing highlights the ongoing efforts by federal authorities to hold individuals accountable for exploiting pandemic relief programs meant to support legitimate businesses.
