Flint Man Sentenced To More Than 11 Years In Federal Prison For Multi-Million Dollar Pandemic Loan Fraud

FLINT — Antonio Lynn Fluker, Jr., 36, of Flint, Michigan was sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison following his conviction for wire fraud and money laundering in connection with a multi-million-dollar pandemic loan fraud scheme, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.  Fluker was also ordered to pay $3.8 million in restitution.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Douglas Zloto, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Detroit Field Office.

U.S. District Court Judge F. Kay Behm imposed sentence on Fluker following his guilty plea to wire fraud and money laundering. According to court documents, Fluker defrauded the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. These programs were intended to provide critical financial assistance to small businesses suffering economic harm because of the Covid-19 pandemic. As part of his scheme, Fluker prepared and submitted false applications in the names of multiple individuals and companies to obtain approximately 23 loans and loan advances, resulting in more than $3.6 million in fraud. Fluker then used this money for his own personal expenses, including sending $75,000 in loan proceeds to a luxury car dealer to obtain a Lamborghini.

As part of his plea agreement, Fluker also admitted to obtaining more than half a million dollars through bank fraud and another approximately $170,000 from credit cards obtained through identity theft.

Fluker was on federal supervised release for prior fraud-related and escape from custody convictions at the time of the offense. U.S. District Court Judge Behm also sentenced Fluker to 24 months in prison for his supervised release violations, to be served concurrently to his 135-month sentence.

“Those who defraud federal programs like the PPP and EIDL programs cause real harm to communities by taking away critical emergency relief funds from the hard-working small business owners and employees who need them,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. “My office will continue to prioritize the prosecution of fraud schemes relating to the pandemic.”

“Antonio Fluker was able to defraud the EIDL and PPP loan programs designed to assist the American people during the COVID-19 pandemic. The monies Fluker stole were intended to help honest businesses and hard-working individuals living in Flint, MI. Postal Inspectors from the USPIS and agents from OIG-SBA and USSS, with the assistance of the US Attorney’s Office, were able to investigate, arrest, and convict Antonio Fluker as well as seize funds he illegally obtained through his fraud scheme. We are glad to see that justice prevailed in this case and continue to investigate individuals who took advantage of the global pandemic to enrich themselves with COVID Relief Disaster Funds,” said Special Agent Zloto.

This investigation was conducted by special agents of the U.S. Secret Service Saginaw Resident Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ann Nee, Blaine Longsworth, and Jules DePorre.