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21 Mitchell County residents used fake businesses to get COVID money, AG alleges

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By T.S. Carter

 

MITCHELL COUNTY, Georgia – Nearly two dozen people in Mitchell County are facing federal criminal charges of opening bogus businesses to get loans from the Paycheck Protection Program, a federal business rescue effort employed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

The 21 residents of the Southwest Georgia county are named in indictments that allege they made it all up and fraudulently received a combined $604,157. Congress intended the money for keeping small businesses from going under as customers stayed home and businesses became strapped for operating cash during COVID. Each defendant submitted applications for a PPP loan in which they claimed ownership of a business, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said in a press statement.

“In the face of an unprecedented global health pandemic, the Paycheck Protection Program was intended to help small business owners keep their doors open and their employees paid,” Carr said. “Those who took advantage of the system to fraudulently obtain funds will be held accountable.”

Neither the businesses nor the financial data provided in the applications was real, the AG’s statement said.

Each defendant received at least one loan of $20,833 because of their actions, with some defendants submitting more than one application and receiving a second loan, according to the press statement.

The total amount that is alleged to have been fraudulently obtained by all 21 individuals is $604,157, the statement said.

Congress established the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, in 2020as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, a $2.2 trillion economic stimulus bill.

The Paycheck Protection Program,administered by the Small Business Administration, backed loans to help small businesses in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants certified under penalty of law that the funds were necessary due to economic uncertainty and would only be used for business-related costs. They could later apply for loan forgiveness if employee numbers, and wage amounts remained stable.

The Attorney General’s White Collar and Cyber Crime Unit presented evidence to a Mitchell County Grand Jury on Jan. 8, 2025, which returned 13 separate indictments* charging all 21 defendants.

Here is a full list of all indictments, defendants, and charges.

Indictment 1: 

De’antre Jackson, 29, of Camilla:

  • 2 counts of Theft by Taking – O.C.G.A. § 16-8-2
  • 2 counts of False Swearing – O.C.G.A. § 16-10-71(a)

Amaray McDowell, 23, of Camilla:

  • 2 counts of Theft by Taking – O.C.G.A. § 16-8-2
  • 2 counts of False Swearing – O.C.G.A. § 16-10-71(a)

Kentavious Wimberly, 24, of Camilla:

  • 1 count of Theft by Taking – O.C.G.A. § 16-8-2
  • 1 count of False Swearing – O.C.G.A. § 16-10-71(a)

Indictment 2:

Kentavius Clayton, 27, of Camilla:

  • 2 counts of Theft by Taking – O.C.G.A. § 16-8-2
  • 2 counts of False Swearing – O.C.G.A. § 16-10-71(a)

Lashundra Clayton, 45, of Camilla:

  • 1 count of Theft by Taking – O.C.G.A. § 16-8-2
  • 1 count of False Swearing – O.C.G.A. § 16-10-71(a)

Indictment 3:

Da’cari Jones, 27, of Camilla:

  • 2 counts of Theft by Taking – O.C.G.A. § 16-8-2
  • 2 counts of False Swearing – O.C.G.A. § 16-10-71(a)

Chauncy Moore, 27, of Camilla:

  • 1 count of Theft by Taking – O.C.G.A. § 16-8-2
  • 1 count of False Swearing – O.C.G.A. § 16-10-71(a)

Kentavious Williams, 28, of Camilla:

  • 2 counts of Theft by Taking – O.C.G.A. § 16-8-2
  • 2 counts of False Swearing – O.C.G.A. § 16-10-71(a)

Kenyetta Williams, 33, of Camilla:

  • 1 count of Theft by Taking – O.C.G.A. § 16-8-2
  • 1 count of False Swearing – O.C.G.A. § 16-10-71(a)

Kimbreanna Williams, 30, of Camilla:

  • 2 counts of Theft by Taking – O.C.G.A. § 16-8-2
  • 2 counts of False Swearing – O.C.G.A. § 16-10-71(a)

Danarious Yates, 37, of Camilla:

  • 1 count of Theft by Taking – O.C.G.A. § 16-8-2
  • 1 count of False Swearing – O.C.G.A. § 16-10-71(a)

Indictment 4:

Te’Erika Dewberry, 26, of Camilla:

  • 1 count of Theft by Taking – O.C.G.A. § 16-8-2
  • 1 count of False Swearing – O.C.G.A. § 16-10-71(a)

Indictment 5:

Kentrundas Almond, 31, of Camilla:

  • 1 count of Theft by Taking – O.C.G.A. § 16-8-2
  • 1 count of False Swearing – O.C.G.A. § 16-10-71(a)

Indictment 6:

Demontavious Clayton, 26, of Camilla:

  • 1 count of Theft by Taking – O.C.G.A. § 16-8-2
  • 1 count of False Swearing – O.C.G.A. § 16-10-71(a)

Indictment 7:

Jordan Clayton, 23, of Camilla:

  • 1 count of Theft by Taking – O.C.G.A. § 16-8-2
  • 1 count of False Swearing – O.C.G.A. § 16-10-71(a)

Indictment 8:

Dre’Kwaun Daniels, 22, of Camilla:

  • 1 count of Theft by Taking – O.C.G.A. § 16-8-2
  • 1 count of False Swearing – O.C.G.A. § 16-10-71(a)

Indictment 9:

Iletha Jackson, 34, of Camilla:

  • 2 counts of Theft by Taking – O.C.G.A. § 16-8-2
  • 2 counts of False Swearing – O.C.G.A. § 16-10-71(a)

Indictment 10:

Au’darrious Perry, 23, of Camilla:

  • 1 count of Theft by Taking – O.C.G.A. § 16-8-2
  • 1 count of False Swearing – O.C.G.A. § 16-10-71(a)

Indictment 11:

Stacey Smith, 30, of Camilla:

  • 2 counts of Theft by Taking – O.C.G.A. § 16-8-2
  • 2 counts of False Swearing – O.C.G.A. § 16-10-71(a)

Indictment 12:

Thomas Raderrius, 22, of Camilla:

  • 1 count of Theft by Taking – O.C.G.A. § 16-8-2
  • 1 count of False Swearing – O.C.G.A. § 16-10-71(a)

Indictment 13:

Malik Watkins, 26, of Camilla:

  • 1 count of Theft by Taking – O.C.G.A. § 16-8-2
  • 1 count of False Swearing – O.C.G.A. § 16-10-71(a)

Posted in Breaking News, Government for its Citizens

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