Democratic Prosecutor In Atlanta Is Imprisoned For Swiping $15 Million In PPP Funds

(PatriotWise.com) — An Atlanta-based lawyer and business owner was sentenced to over seven years in federal prison last Friday for fraudulently obtaining nearly $15 million from the Pandemic-era Paycheck Protection Program.

According to a June 7 press release from the Justice Department, 62-year-old Shelitha Robertson conspired with another lawyer, Chandra Norton, to submit fraudulent loan applications through PPP on behalf of businesses owned by Robertson and Norton.

In their loan applications, the two women lied about the number of employees and average monthly payroll for their businesses and provided false tax documentation, which enabled Robertson and Norton to receive larger loans than they could obtain legally.

The women submitted fraudulent PPP loans for four separate businesses Robertson owned, for which they received $7,020,779, which Robertson deposited into bank accounts she owned and controlled.

Robertson then used the taxpayer money to purchase luxury items, including a 10-carat diamond ring valued at $148,000 and a Rolls-Royce. She also transferred some of the funds to members of her family as well as Norton.

After a bank grew suspicious and froze her account in May 2020, Robertson paid back the money with interest.

Robertson was convicted by a federal jury in December on three counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and one count of money laundering.

Norton pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in November 2020 and cooperated with prosecutors in the case against Robertson. She is expected to be sentenced in August.

A former Assistant City Attorney, Robertson, wept at sentencing, telling the court that she was “dead broke,” having lost her businesses, assets, and law license.

US District Judge Steven Grimberg sentenced Robertson to seven years and three months. Robertson, who has been behind bars since her conviction, will receive six months of credit for time served.

Judge Grimberg said Robinson and Norton would likely be liable for paying the remaining $7.9 million fraudulently obtained in restitution. He scheduled a restitution hearing for next month.

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