Shelby County Man Charged in Multi-Million Dollar COVID-19 Loan Fraud Scheme

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - A Shelby County man has been charged with defrauding the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL), and Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) by unlawfully obtaining funds intended to provide COVID-19 pandemic relief to eligible operating businesses, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby

A 13-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Stanley Mark Hill, 61, of Helena, Alabama, with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

According to the indictment, from at least May 2020 to May 2021, Hill applied for seven fraudulent PPP, EIDL, and RRF loans from the SBA, six of which were funded. Hill submitted loan applications containing false information about the revenues and costs of goods sold by his alleged businesses and falsified documentation supporting the loan applications. The loan requests totaled more than $3 million, of which over $2.5 million was funded. Hill also used the social security number of another individual to file six of the loan applications, without the consent or knowledge of that individual.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

The Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison J. Garnett is prosecuting the case.

An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.