In a surprising turn of events, a Kingdom City business owner, Scott Maples, was sentenced in federal court on Monday for fraudulently obtaining over $673,000 in pandemic loans. The ruling came from the U.S. Department of Justice and is a strong message to other business owners considering committing fraud to think twice before engaging in illegal activities.
As part of his sentence, Maples, 40, will spend 18 months in federal prison without the possibility of parole and must pay $684,034 in restitution. This ruling is a result of Maples’ guilty plea to one count of bank fraud where he confessed to falsely applying for and acquiring Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans by inflating and providing inaccurate payroll expenses for his three businesses. Additionally, he submitted counterfeit bank statements and tax forms.
The fraudulent loans were obtained by Maples’ companies which included Maples Enterprises, Clearance Depot, and Area 23, LLC. These loans ranged from $51,000 to $270,000. Despite the beneficial nature of PPP loans for struggling businesses during the pandemic, individuals like Maples abusing the system undermine the aid for those truly in need. The U.S. Department of Justice released information detailing how Maples would face the consequences of his actions if he continued down this path.
This ruling sends a clear message that committing fraud is never worth it and that there are severe consequences for those who do so. It also serves as a reminder that these programs were designed to help those who truly need it and not take advantage of them for personal gain.
In conclusion, Scott Maples was sentenced on Monday for fraudulently obtaining over $673,000 in pandemic loans after admitting guilt to one count of bank fraud. He will spend 18 months in federal prison without parole and must pay $684
