On Thursday, Tezzaree El-Amin Champion, 28, a Minneapolis nonprofit executive, pleaded guilty to orchestrating a $6 million fraud scheme. Champion, who ran Futuristic Management LLC and his nonprofit Encouraging Leaders, assisted clients in submitting fraudulent small business relief and loan applications, including Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. He falsified financial documents and inflated income and expenses, securing over $2.1 million in fraudulent loans.
Champion also misused grants and double-billed Hennepin County’s Elevate Business program, illegally obtaining more than $1.5 million in funds. Authorities recovered $127,000 in cash and a firearm from Champion’s home during a search. As part of his guilty plea, he has agreed to pay restitution of at least $3.47 million. His co-defendant, Marcus A. Hamilton, has also pleaded guilty to related charges. Sentencing hearings are scheduled for a later date.
