Blue Springs woman faces up to 20 years in prison for PPP loan fraud

KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) – A woman pleaded guilty today after conspiring to obtain more than $220,000 in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan proceeds.

Daisha Sanders, a former resident of Blue Springs, Missouri, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She admitted to participating in a scheme to submit fraudulent applications for PPP loans from February 2021 to July 2022.

Sanders, 33, prepared 14 fraudulent PPP loan applications that were accepted and many others rejected. Sanders created claims for herself and each of her co-conspirators in exchange for payment from the loan proceeds.

The statements falsely stated either the existence of sole proprietorships prior to the pandemic or grossly inflated the income of any “business” that existed in 2019.

Sanders created fictitious bank records, IRS forms and other false financial documents to support the false loan applications. Funds were issued to ineligible borrowers, most of whom were forgiven, although the funds were not used for the purposes specified in the PPP.

Sanders’ training fees ranged from $2,000 to $5,000, generating at least $40,832 from the scheme. Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Sanders must pay the government exactly that amount. Sanders must also pay restitution to the Small Business Administration.

Sanders is the eighth defendant in the case to plead guilty; each convicted co-defendant admitted to applying for a PPP loan of approximately $20,833.

Sanders faces up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.