SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY – Two Long Island woman, Tina White, 36, of Bellport, and Shawana Williams, 45, of Centereach, have pleaded guilty to unlawfully receiving thousands of dollars through fraudulent Small Business Administration loan applications. The Suffolk County District Attorney, Raymond A. Tierney, expressed his disappointment in the actions of these individuals, highlighting the abuse of a system intended to provide financial assistance to small businesses during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement, District Attorney Tierney acknowledged the impact of the pandemic on people’s health and finances, emphasizing the need to hold accountable those who exploit taxpayer funds. He extended his gratitude to the United States Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration for their collaboration in investigating and prosecuting such cases.
The investigation revealed that on May 7, 2020, and July 6, 2020, Tina White and Shawana Williams respectively filed fraudulent COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications with the Small Business Administration. Both individuals falsely claimed to be the Chief Operating Officers of businesses in need of financial assistance due to the pandemic’s economic consequences.
It was discovered that neither of the businesses actually existed. While their loan applications were being processed, White received an initial cash advancement of $6,000, and Williams received $4,000. Although their applications were eventually denied, White and Williams failed to return the money they had unlawfully obtained.
As a result of their actions, Tina White pleaded guilty to Petit Larceny, a Class A misdemeanor. She paid restitution in the amount of $6,000 and received a conditional discharge on December 21, 2023. Shawana Williams, on the other hand, pleaded guilty to Falsifying Business Records in the Second Degree and Petit Larceny, both Class A misdemeanors. Williams paid restitution in the amount of $4,000 and received a conditional discharge on February 23, 2024.
The legal representation for both individuals was provided by Michael Brown, Esq. These cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Katharine D’Aquila of the Public Corruption Bureau.
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