Date: April 9, 2025
Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov
Aberdeen, MS — U.S. District Court Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Lakisha Pearson and Robert Pearson both of Holly Springs, Mississippi, yesterday in connection with their leadership role in a multi-million-dollar PPP fraud scheme. Judge Aycock sentenced Lakisha Pearson to a 75-month jail sentence to run consecutively to a previous 52-month sentence, totaling 127 months, and Robert Pearson to a 110-month sentence for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud in connection with fraudulent PPP loans. Judge Aycock also ordered the Pearsons to repay $3,364,052 in restitution.
The Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) was a COVID-19 pandemic relief program administered by the Small Business Administration that provided forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other related business expenses. The Pearsons owned Unity Tax Express and helped numerous individuals file for and receive fraudulent PPP loans in return for a kickback. The PPP loan applications included false information regarding the number of employees and the extent of the claimed business operations.
In a related prosecution in January of this year, U.S. District Court Judge Michael P. Mills sentenced Lakisha Pearson to a 52-month jail sentence for mail fraud in connection with falsely claimed IRS Employee Retention Tax Credit for others. Judge Mills also ordered Pearson to repay $15,942,586.77 in restitution in that case.
“These defendants are thieves who used a national crisis to steal money from the American people, and they richly deserved the sentences that were handed down,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “I want to state unequivocally that this case should serve as a reminder to those who committed PPP fraud that investigations into your criminal acts have not ended, and will not end, until we uncover all of those in our district who defrauded the American people during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“When we advise taxpayers to do their research to avoid engaging with unscrupulous tax preparers, the individuals sentenced yesterday are the example,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Atlanta Field Office. “Those who defrauded the programs under the CARES Act are still being held accountable. IRS-CI special agents and our law enforcement partners will continue investigating and forwarding to the U.S. Attorney’s Office these individuals for prosecution.”
“This sentencing demonstrates the commitment of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration to investigate and bring to justice those who victimize the American taxpayer," said Joel Weaver, TIGTA Special Agent-in-Charge. “Fraudulently applying for loans through a federal program meant to assist Americans in need will be met with aggressive investigation and prosecution. I want to thank our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney's Office for their commitment to this goal.”
Special Agent in Charge Mark Switzer with the U.S. Secret Service Memphis Field Office stated “Both the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program were established to ensure employees of small businesses did not lose their jobs during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Individuals preying on the generosity these programs provided, stole money from the US taxpayers for personal gain without regard to the economic losses felt throughout the country. Yesterday’s sentencing demonstrates those who stole from COVID-19 relief programs for personal gain will be held accountable and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The Secret Service continues to work steadfastly with our partners in the Internal Revenue Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to protect and safeguard the nation’s financial infrastructure.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Roberts prosecuted the case on behalf of U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi.
The case was investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
IRS-CI is the criminal investigative arm of the IRS, responsible for conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, narcotics trafficking, money-laundering, public corruption, healthcare fraud, identity theft and more. IRS-CI special agents are the only federal law enforcement agents with investigative jurisdiction over violations of the Internal Revenue Code, obtaining a 90% federal conviction rate. The agency has 20 field offices located across the U.S. and 14 attaché posts abroad.