Covid-19 pandemic fraud
COVID-19 Pandemic Fraud

New Jersey woman convicted in $15K PPP fraud scheme tied to Charleston ring

Posted by
1 min read
July 20, 2025

JERSEY CITY, NJ — A federal jury has convicted a New Jersey woman in a COVID-19 relief fraud case involving a fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan submitted on behalf of a co-conspirator in Charleston.

KISHA SUTTON, 44, of Jersey City, was found guilty this week of aiding and abetting bank fraud and aiding and abetting laundering of monetary instruments. Sutton submitted a fraudulent PPP loan application on April 19, 2021, falsely claiming that co-defendant SHAMIESE WRIGHT was a self-employed individual with $75,000 in gross income in 2020.

Evidence presented at trial showed Wright was not self-employed, had never earned that income, and was actually receiving unemployment benefits during 2020. Prosecutors established that Sutton knowingly submitted the fabricated application and attached a falsified IRS Form 1040, Schedule C, to secure the loan.

Wright’s application was approved by a Florida-based lender, and $15,625 in PPP funds were deposited into her personal account on May 7, 2021. Between May 7 and May 21, Wright transferred $3,000 of the loan proceeds to Sutton using a digital wallet application, with misleading descriptions to conceal the fraud.

Under the CARES Act, PPP loans were intended to provide financial relief to qualifying sole proprietors and small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Loan recipients were required to certify the legitimacy of their claims and income documentation.

Sutton is scheduled to be sentenced on November 13 and faces up to 50 years in federal prison. Restitution will be determined at sentencing.

Wright, 32, of Charleston, pleaded guilty last week to aiding and abetting the laundering of monetary instruments and is set to be sentenced on October 29. Four other individuals—WILLIAM POWELL, DAMISHA BROWN, and JASMINE SPENCER, all from West Virginia—have also pleaded guilty in connection with the broader scheme, which federal prosecutors say involved at least $140,625 in fraudulent PPP loans.

The case was investigated by the FBI, the West Virginia State Police’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office Public Integrity and Fraud Unit.

Sutton is the first to be convicted at trial in the scheme that federal agents say defrauded COVID relief programs through coordinated lies and falsified records.

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss

Exit mobile version