Atlanta EIDL Loan Fraud Lawyers

Atlanta EIDL Loan Fraud Lawyers

You received a letter from the SBA Office of Inspector General about your EIDL loan. Or federal agents in Atlanta contacted you – FBI, Homeland Security Investigations – asking about your Economic Injury Disaster Loan application. You’re in Georgia and you’re scared. The Northern District of Georgia has prosecuted over 180 pandemic loan fraud cases with a 96% conviction rate. Here’s what actually happens in Atlanta federal court.

Thanks for visiting Spodek Law Group – a second-generation law firm managed by Todd Spodek. We’ve represented clients facing federal EIDL fraud investigations for over 40 years of combined experience. We know how aggressively the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia prosecutes these cases, and we know what outcomes you’re realistically facing in 2025.

The federal government handed out EIDL loans with minimal verification in 2020. Now in 2025, Atlanta federal prosecutors are handing down sentences 40% longer than they did in 2021-2022 for the exact same conduct. That’s not consistent sentencing – that’s escalating punishment.

Atlanta Federal Court Isn’t Lenient

The Northern District of Georgia – covering Atlanta, Newnan, Rome, and Gainesville – has prosecuted more pandemic loan fraud cases than almost any other federal district. In January 2025, two cousins were sentenced for defrauding the EIDL and PPP programs of over $2 million. Johnny Narcisse received 2 years and 4 months in federal prison plus $2 million in restitution. Johnson Dieujuste received 2 years and 8 months in prison. Both received 3 years of supervised release after prison. Jerry Baptiste, prosecuted in the same district, received 6 and a half years in federal prison plus $830,417 in restitution for his role in a PPP fraud scheme. Boeroepae Jordan of Atlanta was sentenced to 3 years and 5 months in prison plus $323,433 in restitution. These are 2025 sentences. Compare them to 2021 sentences for similar amounts – the prison time has increased dramatically. Then there’s the Rena Barrett case. Barrett was a Small Business Administration loan officer – an SBA insider – who pled guilty in August 2025 to making false statements in connection with over $550,000 in fraudulent COVID-19 pandemic loans. She’s scheduled for sentencing in November 2025. The federal government prosecuted one of their own employees. If the SBA will prosecute their own loan officers for fraud, they will absolutely prosecute Atlanta business owners.

In May 2025, Ian Patrick Jackson of Atlanta was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering in connection with a $3 million fraud scheme.

Prison Time in Atlanta

EIDL fraud sentencing in Atlanta follows the federal guidelines based primarily on loss amount. But Northern District of Georgia judges are sentencing at the high end of the guideline range. Under $100,000 with cooperation: 12-18 months prison is typical now (compared to probation in 2021). Between $100,000 and $500,000: expect 2-3 years. Over $500,000: 3-6 years typical, with cases over $1 million resulting in 5-10 years.

Restitution is mandatory. The full EIDL loan amount must be repaid plus interest. This is a federal debt that survives bankruptcy. Boeroepae Jordan owes $323,433 – he’ll be paying that debt for decades after prison. Probation terms after prison: supervised release lasts 3-5 years. You cannot start or manage a business without permission from your probation officer. Your finances are monitored continuously.

EIDL fraud investigations in Atlanta begin when the SBA Office of Inspector General flags your loan application. The OIG uses automated systems that cross-reference your application against IRS records. Discrepancies trigger referral to federal law enforcement. Stage one: SBA OIG contacts you requesting documentation. Stage two: If fraud is suspected, the case gets referred to FBI, HSI, or IRS Criminal Investigation. Stage three: Federal agents subpoena your bank records, interview business partners and employees, and compare every statement in your EIDL application against documentary evidence. The timeline from initial contact to indictment typically runs 6-18 months in Atlanta cases. The Northern District of Georgia moves faster than many other districts. The critical mistake Atlanta business owners make is responding to the initial SBA OIG inquiry without legal representation. Their statements become evidence of criminal intent when the case escalates to prosecution.

Many believe paying back the loan prevents criminal charges. That’s not how federal prosecution works. Restitution helps at sentencing – it can reduce your prison time. But paying back doesn’t erase criminal liability if prosecutors determine you obtained the loan through fraud. Federal prosecutors under 18 U.S.C. § 1014 and wire fraud statutes focus on intent at the time you submitted the application. Did you knowingly provide false information? If you did, that’s criminal fraud regardless of whether you later pay it back. Making full restitution before sentencing does matter – federal sentencing guidelines provide reductions for acceptance of responsibility and for making victims whole. If you repay the full EIDL amount before sentencing, judges can reduce your prison time – though you’ll still face incarceration if the loss amount was substantial.

At Spodek Law Group – Todd Spodek is a seasoned criminal defense attorney with many, many, years of experience defending Atlanta federal cases. If the SBA Office of Inspector General contacted you – if federal agents asked to interview you – time matters. Northern District of Georgia prosecutes aggressively. Sentences are getting longer. Call 212-300-5196.