Rena Barrett, a former loan officer with the Small Business Administration (SBA), has pleaded guilty to making false statements in connection with applications for over $550,000 in fraudulent COVID-19 pandemic loans. The plea was entered on August 11, 2025.
“The Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provided critical relief to small businesses and supported our economy during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said United States Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “It is intolerable that Barrett—who was entrusted to process loans for desperate small businesses—placed her personal greed ahead of doing her job honestly. With the help of our law enforcement partners, we are committed to rooting out and punishing government employees who betray the public’s trust.”
“Abusing authority to fraudulently obtain Economic Injury Disaster Loan funds betrays the trust of small businesses relying on critical relief,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite of SBA Office of the Inspector General’s Eastern Region. “OIG is committed to protecting taxpayer dollars and ensuring accountability for those who exploit vital programs for personal gain.”
“Government employees who exploit their positions for personal gain betray the public trust and undermine critical programs designed to help those in need,” said Steven N. Schrank, the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI remains steadfast in its commitment to working with our partners to hold accountable those who abuse their authority and harm the integrity of pandemic relief efforts.”
Court records show that Barrett became an SBA employee in October 2020. In May 2021, she submitted a fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) application for $170,000. Although SBA initially declined this loan, Barrett later approved it herself in July 2021 while serving as a loan officer. After discovering her actions, SBA determined that Barrett had approved this loan and others involving herself or relatives. She received nearly half of the total amount sought before resigning from her position when her conduct came to light.
In another case related to EIDL fraud, Sheena Thompson of Conyers, Georgia pleaded guilty on April 15, 2025, admitting she tried to obtain more than $150,000 through fraudulent EIDL applications. Sentencing dates are set for November 12, 2025 for Barrett and August 28, 2025 for Thompson.
Separately, Detra Lewis of Atlanta admitted on August 12, 2025 to making false statements after obtaining over $1.25 million by submitting a fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loan application on behalf of God’s Anointed Youth Ministry. Lewis is scheduled for sentencing on November 14, 2025.
The investigations into Barrett and Thompson were conducted by the SBA Office of Inspector General and Homeland Security Investigations; Lewis’s case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Alex R. Sistla is prosecuting all three cases.
The Department of Justice established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force on May 17, 2021 to coordinate resources across agencies in response to pandemic-related fraud schemes (https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus). The task force aims to strengthen investigations and prosecutions related to such crimes by improving coordination among agencies administering relief programs.
Individuals with information about attempted COVID-19 fraud can contact authorities via phone at 866-720-5721 or submit details online at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
For further information regarding these cases or media inquiries, contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or call (404) 581-6185.
