Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
DAVENPORT—Two locals were indicted by a federal grand jury for COVID-19 fraud as part of the Eastern Washington COVID-19 Strike Force, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Thursday, July 28.
Stephen Murphy, 42, and Stephanie Murphy, 36, both of Davenport, were charged with nine counts of fraud for “fraudulently obtaining three PPP loans for fictitious landscaping and wood products manufacturing businesses in 2021,” according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Murphy and Murphy weren’t the only Eastern Washington people charged Thursday. Dondre Jackson, 29, of Moses Lake, was charged with six counts of fraud regarding two fraudulently received loans for a fake catering business.
“The indictments allege that these businesses did not exist and that the defendants falsified information and submitted fake documents to make it appear as though they were legitimate businesses that qualified for PPP loans, resulting in defendants collectively obtaining over $100,000 in relief funding that was designated for legitimate small businesses struggling with the economic impact of COVID-19,” the release states.
The COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force was launched in February by Vanessa R. Waldref, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to investigate and prosecute fraud against COVID-19 relief programs generated by the CARES Act passed in March 2020.
If convicted, Murphy, Murphy and Jackson face up to 20 years in federal prison and restitution for fraudulently received funds.
Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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