Georgetown woman found guilty of Paycheck Protection Program fraud

Date: April 30, 2024

Contact: [email protected]

A federal jury convicted a Georgetown woman for one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Tiffany Fullerton, along with her husband and two other co-conspirators, used dormant and expired business names to submit five fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications for a total exceeding $3 million.

Four of those applications were funded, allowing the defendants to receive approximately $2.4 million in PPP funds. The funds were used in an attempt to start a business in Oklahoma consisting of a marijuana grow and dispensary, a bar and grill, and an auto/boat repair shop. Additionally, the funds were used to purchase a motor home, luxury watches, a boat, and other personal expenditures.

The three other defendants in the case, Michael Fullerton, David Scott Starkes and Joseph Robles, have all pleaded guilty and await their sentencing hearings.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.

The IRS Criminal Investigation and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Keith Henneke and G. Karthik Srinivasan prosecuted the case.