The father of former Democratic Missouri Rep. Cori Bush was charged with two counts of wire fraud on Thursday after reportedly defrauding the government by submitting false pandemic loan programs.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colombia announced in a press release on Thursday that Cortney Merritts, 46, had been charged with” by federal indictment with two counts of wire fraud” for allegedly filing false applications with the Small Business Administration in 2020 and 2021 that allowed him to collect more than$ 20,000 in government funds through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program ( EIDL ) and Paycheck Protection Program ( PPP )
The husband of the former Democrat lawmaker’s husband was allegedly given an$ 8,500 EIDL loan by the Small Business Administration for a” Vetted Couriers” business, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colombia. Merritts attested in the loan application that his company had six workers and generated$ 32, 000 in total income between January 2019 and January 2020.
According to the prosecution, Merritts allegedly applied for an EIDL payment in addition to a sole proprietorship business called” Cortney Merritts.” Merritts falsely claimed in the next application that his company had ten workers and had generated$ 53,000 in gross income between January 2019 and January 2020. Based on his claims, Merritts also requested a maximum advance of$ 10,000.
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The Small Business Administration turned down Bush’s father’s next program, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Colombia,” after finding that his July 2020 program was almost identical to the one he submitted before.”
According to the prosecution, Merritts also applied for a PPP payment on behalf of the company” Cortney Merritts” on April 22, 2021. After falsely claiming that his business was founded in 2020 and had earned$ 128, 000 in gross income, Merritts was given a$ 20, 832 PPP loan.
The District of Columbia’s United States Attorney’s Office stated that” Merritts used the money for his personal profit and enjoyment.” Merritts falsely claimed that this company had 10 people at the time of the PPP product and that he spent the$ 20, 832 on payroll expenses in a loan forgiveness program in July 2022. According to Merritts ‘ alleged fraudulent statements, the SBA forgave the PPP loan in the amounts of$ 20, 832 and$ 254.03 in interest.
The Small Business Administration Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Washington Field Office are now looking into the line fraud case against Bush’s partner, according to a press release on Thursday.
