US COURT JAILS ELLEN CORKRUM FOR BANK FRAUD
By: STAFF Writer
USA-WTVNEWS: A Court in the United States of America has sentenced to jail Former Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) Managing Director Ellen Corkrum for bank fraud.
Madam Corkrum received a 3yrs 5Months jail sentence with full restitution of the money.
Her sentence is in connection with Paycheck Protection Program in which she obtained over $6 million in fraudulent proceeds in the US.
Acting U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine said the charges and other information presented in the court included six false and fraudulent names and loan applications between April 27, 2020 and June 17, 2020.
According to Attorney Erskine โThe Paycheck Protection Program is meant to help legitimate businesses and their workers through the depths of the pandemic,โ โUnfortunately, VanPelt decided to use the program as her personal bank.
Ellen Corkrum changed her name to Hunter VanPelt in July 2016.
A Special Agent in Charge of FBI in Atlanta, Chris Hacker said โThe FBI will not tolerate anyone who misdirects federal emergency assistance intended for business who actually need it to stay operational”.
The amounts requested in the six Paycheck loans is $7,943,591.50, of which $6,017,066.50 was disbursed.
According to the U.S Department of Justice, Madam Corkrum owned or controlled the six entities that sought these PPP loans. They include Georgia Nephrology Physician Associated, United Healthcare Group & Co., Nephrology Network Group LLC, First Corporate International, Corkrum Consolidated Inc., and Kiwi International Inc.
According to the New York Times, the defendant, who legally changed her name from Ellen Corkrum to Hunter VanPelt in July 2016, submitted the PPP loan applications under both names the report said .
Federal agents were able to seize approximately $2.1 million of the fraudulent proceeds.
