Evan Perez, 35, pleaded guilty on September 27, 2023 to wire fraud conspiracy for obtaining approximately $720,000 in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Relief Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program loans during the Coronavirus in Charlotte, NC. Evan owns several popular barber businesses including Touch of Precision School of Barbering, Inc.
According to prosecutors, Evan conspired with Edward Whitaker and others in a scheme from April 2020 to September 2021, to defraud the U.S. Small Business Administration by obtaining fraudulent COVID-19 disaster relief funds for businesses he controlled or was affiliated with.
Some of the businesses included Touch of Precision Barber Lounge, LLC, Augie’s Wish Foundation, EMP Haircare, LLC, E.M.P. Enterprises, LLC, T.O.P. Salon Suites Inc., Touch of Precision School of Barbering, Inc., and Roads to Success Early Learning Center, LLC.
Court documents show that Evan and Edward submitted PPP and EIDL loan applications and supporting documents that contained false and fraudulent information regarding Evan’s businesses’ income, number of employees, gross revenues, and expenses.
As a result of the fraudulent loan applications, the suspects received approximately $720,000 in disaster relief funds.
In January 2023, Evan pleaded guilty in federal court to money laundering conspiracy for his role in a multi-million fraud scheme assisting individuals with obtaining fraudulent coronavirus disaster relief funds.
Evan was released on bond after his plea hearing. The maximum statutory penalty for the wire fraud conspiracy offense is five years in prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
