Six Plead Guilty in Oklahoma COVID Loan Fraud Cases, One Took $484K

Six people have pleaded guilty in Oklahoma City and Muskogee federal courts to defrauding pandemic-era Small Business Administration programs. Three of the defendants worked together to file more than 100 fraudulent PPP loan applications. Kingsley Tazinya of Oklahoma City obtained about $228,600 and was sentenced to 20 months in prison plus $564,500 in restitution. Olabode Nurudeen Jimoh of Yukon got $484,266 and received 12 months and one day, along with full restitution.

The pleas are part of a nationwide enforcement surge by the Justice Department, the SBA, and its inspector general’s office, targeting more than 160 defendants and roughly $245 million in intended losses. A seventh person, Jeremy Michael Bowles of Bixby, faces 16 counts of health care fraud tied to an alleged scheme billing Medicare and Medicaid for fake COVID-19 tests.

For Oklahoma communities still rebuilding from the pandemic years, these cases land close to home. The relief programs were designed to keep small businesses alive during government lockdowns, and investigators say the people charged treated that money as fair game. Prosecutors stress that time passing does not soften their commitment to accountability. Did you know someone who ran a small business through the pandemic? What was their experience with the relief programs? Tell us in the comments.