Woman Sentenced for Gambling Away Pandemic and Economic Crisis Loan

TULSA, Okla.  –  A woman was sentenced today to 18 months and for wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge Terence, C. Kern, sentenced Carmen Leann Oliver, 34. Judge Kern further ordered Oliver to 5 years of supervised release and to pay $170,832 in restitution.

According to court documents, from August 2020 through July 2021, Oliver engaged in a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration by obtaining an Economic Injury Disaster Loan she was not entitled to. She lied on her application and received proceeds meant for the business applicant’s operating expenses. Oliver met the application requirements by claiming she had five employees and revenue prior to January 2020. Once the loan was approved and deposited into her account, Oliver misappropriated funds for personal use including gambling at various casinos. 

Oliver was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.

The Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Buscemi prosecuted the case.

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Since the inception of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 150 defendants in more than 95 criminal cases and has seized over $75 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-takes-action-against-covid-19-fraud