A Harper Woods man has been charged in connection with allegedly fraudulently obtaining more than $60,000 in COVID-19 relief funds, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office said.
Roy Lee Holt, 57, was arraigned last week through 32A District Court on two counts of false pretenses of $20,000 to $50,000, each a 15-year felony; false pretenses of $1,000 to $20,000, a five-year felony; two counts of using a computer to commit a crime, each a 10-year felony; and one count of making/permitting a false tax return, a five-year felony.
To obtain two Paycheck Protection Program loans in 2021, Holt allegedly submitted a fraudulent bank statement and made other false representations regarding his business operations, Nessel’s office said in a statement.
Authorities allege he also submitted additional fraudulent misrepresentations to have those loans forgiven. Each PPP loan Holt received was for $20,832, totaling more than $41,000, the release stated.
Holt also allegedly received $19,880 in COVID Emergency Rental Assistance funds after submitting falsified and altered documentation to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. The CERA program, administered by MSHDA, was designed to support Michigan residents struggling with rent and utilities due to pandemic-related financial hardships, state officials said.
The 57-year-old was a Veterans Affairs employee.
Reached Monday, Holt’s attorney, Blake Wright, declined to comment on the allegations.
The investigation was conducted in close collaboration with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General.
“I would like to thank the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General for their assistance in this investigation,” Nessel said in the release. “My office will continue to pursue and prosecute those who took advantage of taxpayer funds meant for individuals and small businesses struggling during a time of crisis.”
Holt’s bond was set at $10,000.
A probable cause conference is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Aug. 6 in front of Judge Rebekah R. Coleman in the 32A District Court.
His case follows others related to fraud or COVID-19 relief funds.
In June, a Lansing man was accused of filing fraudulent grant applications with the Michigan Department of Treasury and pleaded guilty to the charges.
A certified public accountant from Detroit was convicted last month for stealing $14.5 million in COVID-19 relief loans in Pennsylvania.
This month, four Michigan companies owned by the same man settled a suit by agreeing to collectively pay $1,933,448 to settle allegations that he made false statements to obtain PPP loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration and violated the False Claims Act.
