Marshall County Residents Arrested for Payroll Protection Fraud

March 4, 2025- Two Marshall County residents were arrested yesterday on criminal charges related to their involvement in a conspiracy to fraudulently obtain government funds intended to protect employees of endangered businesses during the COVID pandemic through the Payroll Protection Program (“PPP”) of the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”).

According to court documents, Bridget Davis and Joey Davis, residents of Marshall County, are charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their involvement in the fraudulently application of PPP loans. The defendants are also charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering by participating in wire transfers involving proceeds of the fraud scheme.

If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 30 years for the conspiracy and wire fraud violations and 20 years for the money laundering charges. A federal district court judge would determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The alleged scheme in the instant case was initially uncovered during the course of a civil investigation. The federal investigative agencies that assisted with this investigation emphasized their ongoing commitment to hold accountable those citizens who seek to fraudulently and unfairly profit from federal pandemic relief programs.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi is prosecuting the case. The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.