(CBS-DETROIT) – A Detroit man has pleaded guilty in federal court to a fraud conspiracy charge in connection with a pandemic fraud scheme in Pennsylvania, officials announced.
Between March 2020 and August 2021, 37-year-old Matthew Lloyd Parker allegedly conspired with other people to defraud lenders of $14.5 million by submitting false applications for COVID-19 relief loans.
“Parker, a licensed Detroit CPA, recruited hundreds of small businesses in Pittsburgh and Detroit and forged applications for PPP loans in their names,” officials said.
Of the applications submitted, the Small Business Administration has approved 226.
U.S. Attorney Eric G. Olshan said this is the largest known Paycheck Protection Program program in the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Parker will be sentenced on September 17. He faces a maximum prison sentence of 30 years and/or a $1 million fine.
