Charlotte, NC — Jeannetta Blackmon, also known as Jeannetta Regan, 50, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining over $1.5 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds, announced the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina.
From April 2020 to November 2021, Blackmon orchestrated a scheme to defraud the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), securing COVID-19 relief funds through her businesses—J Renee Enterprises, Jeannetta Renee Girls Talk, and Jrenee Investments. She submitted fraudulent loan applications, providing false information about her businesses’ income, number of employees, and expenses.
As part of the scheme, Blackmon fabricated bank statements and checks, leading to her receiving over $319,000 in disaster relief funds. She also charged customers more than $300,000 in fees to prepare and submit fraudulent PPP and EIDL applications, allowing them to fraudulently obtain more than $1.2 million in relief funds.
In addition to her prison sentence, Blackmon was ordered to pay $1,549,737 in restitution to the government. This restitution is meant to compensate the defrauded relief programs for the funds Blackmon unlawfully received.
“Blackmon defrauded loan programs put in place to support businesses fighting to survive during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Lawrence J. Cameron, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. “Her scheme was not a lapse in judgment, but a pervasive and deceitful course of conduct. This Office stands ready to identify and prosecute those who exploit government assistance programs for personal gain.”
Blackmon’s actions highlight the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to hold accountable those who sought to exploit COVID-19 relief programs for personal profit at the expense of struggling businesses.
