Georgia man sentenced to federal prison for operating illegal trucking businesses, PPP fraud

A Georgia man has been sentenced to federal prison for operating illegal trucking businesses and for stealing pandemic relief funds.

On August 13, Roderick Billingslea, 30, of Dacula, Georgia, was sentenced to two years, six months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $591,668.89 in restitution in addition to to the cost of his incarceration, $49,770 per year.

In April 2024, Billingslea pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of falsification of records in a federal investigation.

Authorities say that in January 2020, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) ordered a trucking company owned by Billingslea, Billingslea’s Inc, to cease all operations due to multiple safety violations. Billingslea was also prohibited from establishing other trucking businesses.

However, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia states that Billingslea defied this order, filing multiple registrations with DOT for new trucking companies that listed false owners and fake addresses. Officials say this was accomplished by stealing corporate identities of legitimate trucking companies.

“He then employed unsuspecting truck drivers who were unaware that they were hired by an illegitimate business. Billingslea used the drivers until they incurred DOT violations, after which he hired new drivers and moved on to another illegal entity,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Billingslea funded these illegal operations with funds from a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for $564,363 on behalf of Billingslea, Inc. in June 2020. To obtain this loan, Billingslea lied on his application, “claiming that he was not barred from operating a trucking business,” and falsely indicated that he employed more people and paid higher payroll than he really did, officials said.

In April 2022, Billingslea applied for and received forgiveness for the PPP loan by submitting false tax documents.

“Billingslea falsified documents in order to receive PPP funds to operate illegal and unsafe businesses that he was ordered to stop operating,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “He has now been held accountable for his crimes.  But our office’s work continues in collaborating with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who defraud the United States Government, including by stealing funds from PPP and other important programs.”

“Billingslea chose to commit fraud and steal limited pandemic relief funds designated to help businesses struggling to survive,” said Frederick D. Houston, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service Atlanta Field Office. “This case signifies our commitment to protect citizens and businesses from fraud and identity theft.  We will continue to work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to prosecute those who abuse these programs.”

“Today’s sentence should send a clear message that, along with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, we will tirelessly pursue individuals who compromise trucking safety by intentionally ignoring or circumventing federal orders and regulations,” said Joseph Harris, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT OIG), Southern Region. “We encourage the public to contact OIG’s Hotline at www.oig.dot.gov/hotline to report suspected PPP loan fraud or other illegal activities that affect the integrity of DOT programs or operations.”

The case was investigated by Department of Transportation – Office of the Inspector General, Small Business Administration – Office of the Inspector General, and the U.S. Secret Service.

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