Kameka Bausley, 43, of Augusta, Georgia, was sentenced today to 32 months in federal prison for defrauding a COVID-19 small business relief program, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia announced.
Bausley, a U.S. Postal Service employee receiving workers’ compensation benefits, misrepresented her catering business’s financial information to fraudulently secure funds from the Small Business Administration (SBA) through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) as part of the CARES Act relief effort.
According to court documents, Bausley submitted false revenue and expense details to qualify for these relief programs, ultimately receiving $71,933. Her actions were discovered during an investigation by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General.
“This sentencing demonstrates our commitment to holding accountable those who exploit federal relief programs for personal gain,” said Jonathan Ulrich, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office noted that this case highlights the vulnerability of relief programs designed to help businesses during the pandemic and the continuing effort to pursue individuals attempting to fraudulently benefit from these funds.
In addition to her prison sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen ordered Bausley to pay full restitution in the amount of $71,933. She will also serve three years of supervised release following the completion of her prison term.
“Congress provided more than $600 billion in funding to help small businesses struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “Unfortunately, that level of funding also attracted scam artists, and we will continue to hold those accountable who illegally profit from safety net programs.”
