Laplace Resident Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud for Role in Preparing and Submitting Fraudulent Cares Act Financial Assistance Applications

NEW ORLEANS –  U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that MUNIRA SCHOFIELD (“SCHOFIELD”), age 28, a resident of LaPlace, La., pleaded guilty on May 23, 2024 before United States District Judge Eldon E. Fallon to  conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371 and 1343.  The charges stem from SCHOFIELD’s role in a conspiracy to prepare and file fraudulent applications for loans related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).  SCHOFIELD’s mother, Lynn Schofield (“Lynn”), and brother, Bashir Schofield (“Bashir”), previously pled guilty for their respective roles in the offense. 

According to court documents, SCHOFIELD, Lynn and Bashir submitted applications to obtain money from Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and Economic Injury Disaster (EIDL) loans fraudulently.  Each defendant submitted at least one loan.  All applications falsely represented that the applicant had a sole proprietorship and generated substantial income from the business by overinflating gross receipts.  The entities either did not exist or earned far less money than they reported.  They also represented that the loan proceeds would be used for business related purposes, when, in fact, the defendants intended to use the money for personal reasons.  SCHOFIELD submitted a fraudulent application for an EIDL loan for a business she claimed to own, “Just Jocin.”  In conjunction with her mother, Lynn, SCHOFIELD also gave false material information to the SBA that grossly inflated the monthly gross receipts to support other loans, including for an entity named “Afromerica Touch 360, LLC,” and used some of the resulting funds for her personal benefit.  In total, MUNIRA SCHOFIELD admitted that her conduct resulted in a loss of approximately $219,033 to the SBA.