A statement from the United States Attorney’s Office, Utah District, announced Thursday that Lisa Bradshaw Rowberry, a 49-year-old woman from Provo, had recently pleaded guilty to her role in a program loan fraud scheme. paycheck protection.
The statement said Rowberry was employed by Salt Lake City-based trucking company Frisbu and owner Hubert Ivan Ugarte. Ugarte also pleaded guilty last month to PPP loan fraud and federal corruption charges involving the FedEx Ground Hub.
According to the plea deal, Rowberry admitted to submitting a fraudulent loan application to the Transportation Alliance Bank in Ogden, Utah, for PPP loans authorized by CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security). , and that she fraudulently obtained $ 210,000 in PPP Loans for Frisbu after failing to disclose on the loan application that Ugarte was federally charged for his role in a bribery scheme involving FedEx Ground Hub, â€the statement read.
Rowberry and Ugarte reportedly met at a branch of the US bank in Utah, where she was working as a branch manager at the time. She then went to work for Ugarte and was allegedly aware that he was indicted by the federal government for the bribery scheme, which occurred in Utah.
The CARES law was enacted on March 29, 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the Paycheque Protection Program, $ 349 billion in forgivable loans were made available to small businesses and more funds were authorized by Congress in April 2020 and also in 2021.
These PPP loans are to be used by businesses on salary costs, mortgages, rent, and utilities.
According to the statement, special agents from the FBI, IRS and the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General investigated Rowberry and Ugarte.
Sentencing for Ugarte is scheduled for June 3 and sentencing for Rowberry is scheduled for July 7.
