Trouble in Farmington Hills: Former Federal Analyst Faces PPP Loan Fraud Charges
Tiesha Johnson, a 56-year-old Farmington Hills local and former analyst for the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, recently pled no contest to charges of PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) Loan fraud and submitting false Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications.
This case came into the limelight when the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General flagged potential loan fraud. Subsequently, the Michigan Department of Attorney General took up the baton and launched an official investigation in July 2022.
Johnson, while still employed as a federal employee, purportedly obtained two PPP loans along with one EIDL advance. The total sum fraudulently secured by her stood at $34,675. These PPP loans were originally designed to cushion businesses from the economic brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic by covering their payroll expenses.
Busted in Dallas, Texas, Johnson was subsequently extradited back to Michigan under the Department of Attorney General’s warrants. She was arraigned in December 2023.
After being tried at the 6th Circuit Court in Oakland County, she pled no contest to three counts of false pretenses, each ranging between $1,000 to $20,000. To compensate for her illegal windfall, she has agreed to dish out $34,675 in restitution.
This case bears testament to the tireless efforts of our justice system in cracking down on fraudulent activities and ensuring that public funds are safeguarded and put to their intended use.
