In a case of COVID-19 relief fraud, a mother and daughter from New York have been handed prison sentences totaling $1.7 million.
Andrea Ayers, a civilian employee of the Mount Vernon Police Department, received a three-and-a-half-year sentence, while her daughter, Alicia, was sentenced to two years.
Alicia, who works as a financial advisor and accountant, will additionally serve six months of house arrest following her prison term.
The fraudulent scheme involved the submission of more than 300 fake applications to the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Program within a span of three weeks.
These applications were filed on behalf of family and friends, with each grant netting nearly a third of the $10,000 payout.
However, the majority of the applicants were unaware of the illegal nature of the scheme.
Only businesses with a minimum of ten employees were eligible for the grants, a criterion that virtually none of the applicants fulfilled. Arrested in March 2021, the Ayers duo pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and making false statements.
Despite their attorneys’ pleas for leniency, citing family responsibilities and remorse, the judge rejected their requests and sentenced them to prison time.
While the prosecutors initially sought five to six years of incarceration, the final sentences were shorter.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams stated that the punishment serves as a deterrent to others who might exploit government programs during a national emergency.
As part of their sentence, the women are required to forfeit $1.69 million and must report to prison by August 2nd.
