Six residents from the St. Louis area have been accused of participating in an $8.3 million pandemic fraud, according to an announcement on April 17. Three individuals were arrested Friday following indictments related to fraudulent applications for government relief programs.
The case centers on allegations that the group submitted at least 40 fraudulent applications between March 2020 and December 2024 for Paycheck Protection Program loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans, which were intended to support small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Raymond Porter Jr., David Holmon, Monica Butler, Dana Kelly, Alexander Sampson, and Latrice Davis face a range of charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering. The indictment alleges that Porter and Holmon prepared and submitted false loan applications for their own businesses as well as those owned by others—including Butler, Kelly, and Sampson—and received fees disguised as payments for services or equipment.
The indictment also claims that personal information was used without authorization to impersonate business owners during the application process; fake websites and documents were created; financial figures were inflated; sham businesses were registered with state authorities; and loan proceeds were misused for personal expenses such as vehicles or home renovations. The charges further allege that falsified federal tax documents were filed through Kelly’s tax preparation business at Porter’s direction.
Special Agent in Charge William Steenson of IRS-Criminal Investigation said: “Since 2020, IRS-Criminal Investigation has investigated thousands of instances of alleged waste, fraud and abuse of CARES Act programs. These programs were meant to provide economic stability to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. When someone uses fraudulent means to gain access to government funds they’re not entitled to, we take that very seriously and will investigate the allegations to the fullest extent to bring the fraudsters to justice.”
Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division said: “The alleged scheme involved submitting fraudulent loan applications on behalf of others as a paid service. The perpetrators allegedly submitted dozens of false loan documents to bilk millions of dollars from the taxpayer-funded pandemic relief programs.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri investigates and prosecutes federal crimes such as terrorism and fraud while enforcing civil rights; it serves 49 counties across eastern Missouri according to its official website. The office collaborates with law enforcement agencies using facilities like Thomas F. Eagleton U.S. Courthouse in St. Louis as noted online.
Charges set forth in an indictment are accusations only; all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced creation of a National Fraud Enforcement Division dedicated “to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars.” This effort supports President Trump’s Task Force chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance aimed at eliminating waste within federal benefit programs.
