Tanyaneeka Powell admitted to making false statements on SBA loan applications to obtain two PPP disbursements totaling about $19,997 and to assisting in preparing a fraudulent application for another person. The plea is part of continued prosecutions of pandemic relief misuse.

In the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Tanyaneeka Powell pleaded guilty to charges stemming from false statements on Small Business Administration loan applications under CARES‑Act relief programs. Records indicate Powell sought and obtained two PPP disbursements totaling approximately $19,997 by providing inaccurate information about payroll and business operations, and she admitted to helping prepare a fraudulent PPP application on behalf of another individual. Prosecutors noted the transactions were part of widespread misuse of pandemic relief programs that prompted aggressive investigative and prosecutorial responses nationwide. The plea agreement contemplates sentencing, restitution and potential forfeiture to recover misapplied funds, and underscores the DOJ’s sustained effort to hold accountable those who exploited emergency federal lending programs. Officials emphasized outreach and interagency coordination to detect similar abuses and to preserve resources intended for legitimate small businesses and employees affected by the pandemic.