Two men were recently sentenced in Tuscaloosa for their involvement in defrauding the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) in unrelated cases. Kenzarian Lemark Harris, 38, was given a 36-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to wire fraud in November 2023. In February 2021, Harris submitted false PPP loan applications, resulting in a loan of over $20,833. His application contained fraudulent tax and bank records, along with other misrepresentations about his business and intended use of the funds.
On the other hand, Reginald Dewayne Rhodes Jr., 26, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for PPP loan fraud after pleading guilty to wire fraud in October 2023. Rhodes applied for and received a fraudulent PPP loan of $11,770 between April and June 2021. He falsely claimed to own a carpet cleaning business and provided fraudulent tax and bank records to support his application.
Both Harris and Rhodes were ordered by the court to pay restitution to the U.S. Small Business Administration for the full amount of the PPP loans plus interest. Law enforcement at all levels is addressing reports of fraudulent activities related to COVID-19 across the country
