A woman from Alabama has admitted to the federal wire fraud and money laundering charges she faced for falsely claiming almost $2 million in pandemic relief funds.
On Wednesday, Tametria Conner Dantzler, aged 39, pleaded guilty and may face a maximum of 20 years imprisonment during her sentencing.
As per her plea agreement and court records, Dantzler provided false information by claiming that the companies she established were eligible for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. This program was initiated by the federal government in March 2020 to offer emergency financial support to American businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The federal prosecutor on the case, Jonathan Ross, emphasizes that government fraud is not a victimless crime. He highlights that any financial loss incurred by the United States is ultimately a loss to the U.S. taxpayer.”
As the leader of D.A.T.S.M.O.M., an acronym for Disability as an Ability Toward Success: Moms on the Move, Dantzler is committed to providing free resources, such as scholarships, to families with children who have autism. The nonprofit’s website proudly boasts this mission.
Prosecutors allege that Dantzler received a whopping $927,338 in pandemic funds, which she then used to purchase a house and pay off her husband’s car, among other expenses. Furthermore, Dantzler was involved in helping others obtain $1,049,864 in funds by charging them fees or producing fake payroll checks. It remains unclear at this time whether the other individuals involved in this scheme will also face charges.
According to an investigation by the Associated Press, it has been found that a staggering $280 billion in COVID-19 relief funding may have been stolen across the United States.
