Mac C. Johnson, 57, of Newberry, and his company, Mac Johnson & Sons Dumpster, Crane & Demolition, LLC, have agreed to pay $100,000 to resolve allegations of submitting false information in a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan application. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida made the announcement on March 28.
According to the U.S. attorney’s office, Johnson knowingly submitted a false claim to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in April 2020, omitting a crucial detail: his felony conviction within the prior five years. Johnson had been convicted in 2019 for tax fraud, wire fraud, structuring financial transactions to evade reporting requirements, and harboring undocumented immigrants. Despite this, he applied for and received a $48,514 PPP loan, falsely certifying the company’s eligibility and omitting the disqualifying felony information.
The settlement of $100,000 resolves the civil liability stemming from the fraudulent loan application, as per the False Claims Act.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michelle Spaven commented, “This settlement, which is more than twice the fraudulently obtained amount, reflects the diligence and determination we will use to pursue businesses who defraud the government.”
Spaven further added, “Here, a defendant who was punished for fraud and harboring aliens continued to take funds unlawfully. Our Civil Division ensured that this fraudster will not benefit from what rightfully belongs to the American people.”
This case highlights the U.S. government’s commitment to investigating and holding accountable those who abuse government programs intended to assist businesses during difficult times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
