A fourth federal employee from Belleville faces COVID-19 loan fraud charges

A fourth federal government employee in Belleville faces charges of fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 pandemic financial aid from the U.S. Small Business Administration, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Tuesday.

Felicia D. Harris, 44, was indicted in federal court in East St. Louis last week on four counts of interstate transportation of a security obtained by fraud in connection with allegations she applied for, accepted and spent over $20,000 for personal expenses, according to a news release.

Harris is employed by the U.S. National Geospatial Agency in St. Louis.

Attorney Sanford J. Boxerman of St. Louis is representing Harris and he declined to comment on her case Tuesday.

“According to court documents, Harris is accused of receiving $20,614 in (Paycheck Protection Program) funds she was not entitled to in February through May 2021,” the release states. “She then used misinformation to apply for loan forgiveness and was approved.”

The money was part of the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, operated by the U.S. Small Business Administration to “offer relief and forgivable loans to struggling businesses” during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Convictions of interstate transportation of a security obtained by fraud are punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment and fines up to $250,000, according to the news release.

Harris is the fourth federal government from Belleville to face charges in recent weeks in connection with Paycheck Protection Program fraud.

Three Belleville employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs were indicted last month.

“Individuals who are employed by the federal government yet seek to steal from federally funded programs by using false pretenses and enrich themselves with PPP loan funds will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe said in the news release.