Milledgeville woman convicted in $2 million PPP loan fraud scheme

Federal prosecutors say a Milledgeville woman and her co-defendant used fraudulent COVID-19 relief loans to buy luxury cars and personal items.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A Milledgeville woman has been found guilty of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $2 million in Paycheck Protection Program loans, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia.

40-year-old Rosalend Way was convicted on Wednesday after a three-day trial. She faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Sentencing is set for December 2.

Her co-defendant, 51-year-old James Frank Austin, of Americus, pleaded guilty on August 27 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of bank fraud and two counts of money laundering. Austin faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. His sentencing is scheduled for November 19.

“Our office will pursue justice against those who exploited a taxpayer funded program created to sustain citizens during a national emergency,” U.S. Attorney William R. ‘Will’ Keyes said in the release. “Our federal investigative and prosecutorial team is committed to holding these offenders accountable.”

According to court documents and trial evidence, Way and Austin submitted false applications for COVID-19 relief loans in June 2020. Way claimed 100% ownership of Propel Opportunity Fund, a company that reported 18 employees and nearly $5 million in wages for 2019. IRS records showed the company paid no salaries or wages.

The loan was approved for $1,051,395, with about $500,000 transferred to Way’s personal accounts. Prosecutors said she spent the money on dining, retail, gas, groceries and cash withdrawals. Austin used $30,000 from another fraudulent loan to pay off Way’s Mercedes-Benz.

In total, Austin obtained $2,078,210 in fraudulent PPP loans, including funds he spent on personal items such as a $119,840 Bentley, according to the release.

Anyone with information about attempted fraud involving COVID-19 relief programs is urged to contact the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.