Calah Williams, a resident of Port St. Lucie, Florida, has been sentenced to three years in prison for defrauding federal pandemic relief programs. She was found guilty of stealing funds from the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and unemployment insurance (UI) benefits under the CARES Act during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Williams stole from programs designed to help the public during a global crisis and now she will face the consequences," stated U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. He emphasized that this prosecution underscores their commitment to holding individuals accountable for defrauding CARES Act programs.
Special Agent in Charge Scott Moffit remarked on the efforts of investigative bodies, saying, "The investigative efforts of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and its partners, combined with the prosecutorial efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, demonstrate their commitment to pursuing, capturing, and prosecuting those who try to defraud the American people."
According to information presented in court by U.S. Attorney Buchanan, Williams submitted fraudulent applications across several government agencies including 42 EIDL applications, 16 PPP applications, and 177 UI benefits applications using stolen personal information. These applications contained false details such as income figures and employee names. Although much of her fraud was detected early on, she managed to obtain approximately $1,026,241.
U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May sentenced Williams not only to prison but also ordered her to pay restitution equal to her ill-gotten gains—$1,026,241—and serve three years of supervised release following her imprisonment.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Samir Kaushal prosecuted this case after it was investigated by the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
This sentencing is part of broader efforts by authorities to combat pandemic-related fraud through initiatives like the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force established by the Attorney General on May 17, 2021.
For more information or to report allegations of COVID-19 related frauds contact can be made via phone at 866-720-5721 or through an online complaint form provided by NCDF.