夏洛特女子就61.8万美元疫情贷款欺诈认罪：伪造税表与雇员数据骗取PPP与EIDL贷款
北卡罗来纳州夏洛特市45岁女子金伯利·安·韦瑟雷尔（Kimberly Ann Weatherell，又名 Kimblery Elamina Wu）10月29日在联邦法院就电汇欺诈与洗钱罪名认罪。北卡罗来纳西区联邦检察官拉斯·弗格森（Russ Ferguson）宣布了这一消息。
根据认罪文件与法庭记录，2020年4月至2024年6月间，韦瑟雷尔为本人及名下多家企业骗取新冠疫情救济贷款，涉及的企业包括 South Charlotte Spa & Salon、Cool Cave Spa and Salon、Metro Proponent、William Z 与 Ifeks Trading。她在申请中谎报企业收入、伪造雇员数据并提交编造的纳税申报表，共骗得超过61.8万美元的薪酬保护计划（PPP）与经济伤害灾难贷款（EIDL）资金。
弗格森表示，疫情救济计划本是帮助企业渡过难关的，不是骗子中饱私囊的发薪日。国税局刑事调查局夏洛特办公室负责人唐纳德·「特雷」·埃金斯（Donald "Trey" Eakins）指出，被告靠虚假信息、伪造税务记录与虚构雇员数据骗取了纳税人的钱。
韦瑟雷尔在认罪后获保释候判。电汇欺诈罪最高可判20年监禁，洗钱罪最高可判10年；量刑日期尚未确定。此案由国税局刑事调查局调查，助理联邦检察官卡琳·芬利（Caryn Finley）负责起诉。
Charlotte Woman Pleads Guilty to $618,000 COVID-19 Loan Fraud Using Fake Tax Returns and Employment Data
Kimberly Ann Weatherell, 45, of Charlotte, North Carolina, also known as Kimblery Elamina Wu, pleaded guilty on October 29 in federal court to wire fraud and money laundering, U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson for the Western District of North Carolina announced.
According to plea documents and court filings, between April 2020 and June 2024 Weatherell obtained fraudulent COVID-19 relief loans for herself and her businesses, including South Charlotte Spa & Salon, Inc., Cool Cave Spa and Salon, Inc., Metro Proponent, Inc., William Z, Inc., and Ifeks Trading. She submitted false information about business income, fake employment data and fabricated tax returns, receiving more than $618,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds.
"COVID-19 relief programs were meant to help businesses survive an unprecedented crisis, not to become a payday for scammers," Ferguson said. Donald "Trey" Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation's Charlotte Field Office, said the defendant obtained taxpayer-funded aid using false information, fabricated tax records and fictitious employment data.
Weatherell was released on bond. Wire fraud carries a maximum of 20 years in prison and money laundering a maximum of 10 years; a sentencing date has not been set. IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn Finley is prosecuting.
来源：GSM·美国（原文链接）
图片来源：图：位于夏洛特的查尔斯·乔纳斯联邦大楼（联邦地区法院所在地）。公共领域，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / The Charles R. Jonas Federal Building in Charlotte. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
