A resident of Pelham, Georgia, Tyreek Brown, 28, has been convicted of wire fraud for his role in a pandemic relief scheme involving members of his family. The verdict was reached on August 12 after a two-day trial. Brown now faces up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a potential $1 million fine. His sentencing date will be set by the court.
Two other individuals involved in the case, Sherronica Jackson, 38, and Alan Brown, 52—both also from Pelham—previously pleaded guilty to bank fraud charges. Their sentencing is scheduled for November 12. Each could face up to 30 years in prison and similar financial penalties.
Chief U.S. District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner is overseeing the proceedings. Federal sentences do not include parole.
“Our office will pursue justice for these types of criminal schemes that deliberately defraud taxpayers,” stated U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “I thank our law enforcement and prosecutorial team for holding those responsible accountable.”
Court documents reveal that Sheronica Jackson obtained a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan from the Small Business Administration in March 2021 by claiming an income she did not earn and failing to identify any business on her application. She received over $20,000 through this federal program established under the CARES Act to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jackson then helped her stepfather Alan Brown and stepbrother Tyreek Brown secure fraudulent PPP loans using similar false information about non-existent businesses and inflated incomes. Alan Brown claimed he ran a contracting business with significant earnings despite lacking any professional credentials or employment history; he received two loans totaling more than $20,000 in April and May 2021.
Tyreek Brown also applied as a sole proprietor using the same address as his relatives and reported false income figures for 2019. He was awarded two loans totaling more than $20,000 in April and May 2021 as well. After receiving these funds, Tyreek Brown transferred $3,000 to Jackson via Cash App and Zelle from a joint account with Alan Brown.
The investigation was conducted by the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General as part of efforts led by the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee Taskforce.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Veronica Hansis is leading prosecution efforts for the government.
