March 12th 2024.
A woman from Seattle has been sentenced to five years in prison for taking advantage of federally funded pandemic assistance programs and obtaining millions of dollars from the government. The United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington made the announcement, revealing that 29-year-old Paradise Williams was found guilty of wire fraud and money laundering. According to officials, Williams ran a ring that was able to fraudulently obtain over $6.8 million in pandemic benefits, allowing her to live a life of luxury with fancy cars, extravagant trips, cosmetic surgery, expensive jewelry, and designer goods.
U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman expressed her disappointment in Williams' actions, stating that she was relentless in her efforts to steal pandemic benefits during a time of national emergency. Gorman also noted that it was unacceptable for Williams to use the money that could have helped King County residents avoid eviction during the winter. She stressed that the fight against pandemic fraud is a top priority for their district, and they will continue to collaborate with law enforcement to hold those who exploit a national crisis accountable for their actions.
Williams and her associates, including her five codefendants, were able to submit more than 125 fraudulent applications for various federal assistance programs, including the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, the Paycheck Protection Program, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act unemployment benefits. This scheme lasted from June 2020 to February 2022 and resulted in over $3.3 million being siphoned off. To make their claims seem legitimate, they posed as fake tenants, landlords, and small business owners affected by the pandemic. In addition to this, they also fabricated bank statements, tenant ledgers, and landlord attestations.
Williams received a total of $2 million in financial assistance, which she used to fund her lavish lifestyle. During her sentencing, U.S. District Judge John H. Chun acknowledged the severity of her crimes and the harm they caused to the community. He stated that Williams and her codefendants stole from programs that were meant to support their fellow citizens during a difficult time.
Four of Williams' codefendants, D'Arius Jackson, Tia Robinson, Rayvon Peterson, and David Martinez, had already pleaded guilty to the charges. Jackson was sentenced to three years in prison, and Robinson received 18 months. The remaining two defendants will be sentenced this week and next, with Martinez's sentencing scheduled for March 11 and Peterson's for March 18.
As part of her plea deal, Williams has agreed to pay restitution of $2,791,241 to the U.S. Department of the Treasury and $512,730 to the U.S. Small Business Administration. She will also forfeit $2,023,104, as well as a Lexus sedan and a Range Rover SUV that she purchased with the illegally obtained funds. This is a just punishment for her actions and serves as a warning to others who may try to exploit government programs for their personal gain.
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