Cape Girardeau, MO. – A woman from Willow Springs has plead guilty to federal charges against her that allege that she fraudulently applied for a 6-digit Pandemic Loan in 2021.
Maxine Michelle Burns, 44, applied for a PPP loan from the Small Business Administration on January 20th of 2021 using the name of the owner of a business in Poplar Bluff; even using the owners stamp without permission. The loan was granted, and Burns has since admitted to using the $167,999 loan to pay for vehicles and vacations.
During September of the same year, Burns applied for a forgiveness of the loan she received, claiming the money had been used in a legitimate fashion, which caused the loan to be forgiven.
Investigation by the U.S. Secret Service led to the revelation of the fraud, and Burns is currently facing up to 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine, or both. She has also been ordered to repay the money.
This information came from a press release from the Office of United States Attorney of the Eastern District of Missouri, Sayler Fleming.
