Oklahoma City Woman Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud after Submitting False Information to Receive Pandemic Relief Loan

OKLAHOMA CITY – Yesterday, MADINAH MALIKAH MONTGOMERY, 32, of Oklahoma City, pleaded guilty to wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

On March 19, 2024, Montgomery was charged by Information with wire fraud. According to the Information, in July 2020 Montgomery claimed to be the owner of a hair and nail salon business located in Oklahoma City. During this time, in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Small Business Administration (SBA) temporarily expanded its Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (EIDL), to help small businesses overcome economic hardships brought on by the pandemic.

Yesterday, Montgomery pleaded guilty to wire fraud and admitted to causing an EIDL application to be submitted to the SBA on behalf of her business. She admitted the loan application falsely stated her business had 10 employees and $600,000 in gross revenue over the previous 12 months. Montgomery received $150,000 as a result of this fraudulent application. Montgomery admitted that part of the loan money she received was improperly spent on personal expenses.

In all, Montgomery received $300,000 from the SBA following her fraudulent EIDL applications.

At sentencing, Montgomery faces up to 20 years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.

This case is the result of an investigation by the United States Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bow Bottomly is prosecuting the case.

Reference is made to public filings for additional information.

For further information on Department of Justice response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus or https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdok/covid-19-fraud-0.  Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form