Show-Me State Times

A woman from St. Louis County, Missouri, Camille N. Foster, has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to fraudulently obtaining five pandemic relief loans totaling $104,163. Foster admitted to wire fraud, acknowledging that between May 2020 and November 2021, she obtained the loans under false pretenses.

Foster submitted loan applications for three businesses, Humble Hearts Home Healthcare LLC, Embellished Jewels LLC, and Muse Me Boutique LLC, providing misleading information about their payroll and annual income, as the businesses were not operational at the time. She also used someone else's name and Social Security number on one application without their knowledge or authorization.

The funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans were transferred into Foster's bank accounts, where she used the money for personal expenses such as retail purchases, dining, cosmetic surgery, and travel. Despite this, she submitted fraudulent applications for loan forgiveness, falsely claiming the funds were spent on payroll costs.

Foster faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. Additionally, she has agreed to a $104,163 money judgment. The FBI investigated the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow prosecuting.

Individuals with information about pandemic-related fraud are encouraged to contact the Department of Justice's National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or report via the NCDF Web Complaint Form.