December 15, 2024
About $4 million in fraudulent PPP funds were awarded to Jackson or individuals he recruited.
Quentin Jackson, 58, a former NC State basketball player and Harlem Globetrotter, was sentenced to seven years in prison on Dec. 13 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to launder the proceeds of the pandemic-era Wage Protection Act (PPP).
By: ABC 11:00Jackson was involved by the Department of Justice in a scheme largely carried out by Jackson, Edward Whitaker and Lamont Taylor to obtain bogus PPP loans.
According to Internal Revenue Service Special Agent in Charge of Criminal Investigation Donald Eakins of the Charlotte Field Office, “schemes to fraudulently obtain federal funds to provide small business assistance are unacceptable.”
“The defendant took advantage of critical relief programs for businesses affected by the pandemic by fraudulently applying for and receiving funds from the COVID-19 program. IRS Special Agents in Criminal Investigation will continue to pursue individuals who attempt to use federal relief programs for their own personal gain.”
Jackson worked with others, according to a Justice Department press release obtain fraudulent PPP loans for others with the names of companies that were under Jackson’s control.
After obtaining the money, Jackson then cooked the books to make it look like he was making payments to employees, but in reality he told his “employees” to cash the checks and get the money back.
According to the Justice Department, Jackson also created a racket for himself where he made money for each fraudulent borrower he recruited into the scheme, eventually involving more than a dozen individuals in the scheme.
About $4 million in fraudulent PPP funds were awarded to Jackson or individuals he recruited.
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina Michael F. Easley said in a statement that Jackson’s violation warranted appropriate consequences.
“We idolize our basketball stars in Carolina, especially the ACC greats who played on Tobacco Road,” Easley said. “As a college guard and Harlem Globetrotter, Jackson’s crossover was lethal and reputation for recruiting people into our nation’s multimillion-dollar pandemic relief scheme.This seven-year sentence should serve as a warning for anyone who has benefited from our nation’s generosity in a time of need. We are patient, persistent and ready to use every second on the clock.”
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