Keon Taylor, 31, was sentenced to five years in prison and three years of supervised release on March 10, 2022 for using stolen identities to defraud government funded Coronavirus aid relief programs of more than $252,000 in Charlotte, NC.
From March 2020 to February 2021 Keon engaged in a scheme to defraud the U.S. Small Business Administration. Keon filed fraudulent claims for COVID-19 related unemployment insurance benefits in the states of Tennessee, Texas, Ohio, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Arizona.
Keon used the personal information to apply for and receive over $252,000 in fraudulent unemployment benefits, and to submit numerous additional applications seeking fraudulent unemployment benefits.
Court documents show that Keon also attempted to defraud the SBA by using false information to submit applications for three loans under the EIDL program set aside for businesses impacted by COVID-19.
Documents further show that in February 2021, federal agents executed a search warrant at Keon’s apartment, seizing equipment used to manufacture fake identification cards.
On July 27, 2021, Keon pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Keon continued to engage in fraudulent ID-making activities even after pleading guilty, which resulted in the revocation of his federal bond.
