Marshall County couple sentenced for COVID PPP fraud
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi release
April 9, 2025 – U.S. District Court Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Lakisha Pearson, 48, and Robert Pearson, 54, both of Holly Springs 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.”
“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.”
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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.”
“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, Atlanta Field Office. “Those who defrauded the programs under the CARES Act are still being held accountable. IRS Criminal Investigation special agents and our law enforcement partners will continue investigating and forwarding to the U.S. Attorney’s Office these individuals for prosecution.”
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 U.S. Secret Service, IRS Criminal Investigation Division, and the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud affecting COVID-19 government relief programs can be reported by visiting the webpage of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section, which can be found here. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can also report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Since the inception of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 150 defendants in more than 95 criminal cases and has seized over $75 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at Justice.gov/OPA/pr/justice-department-takes-action-against-covid-19-fraud.
