Lehigh Acres woman guilty of lying to bank for $395,000 PPP loan; sentencing in June

Michael Braun, Fort Myers News-Press
·2 min read

A Lehigh Acres woman will be sentenced June 21 in U.S. District Court in Fort Myers after she pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a lending institution.

Edrica Leann Watson was indicted in December on a two-count federal indictment. The first count of the indictment, bank fraud, was dismissed. She pleaded guilty in March.

The federal indictment charged Watson with falsely applying for a PPP loan and accepting funds from that application of $392,563.

The indictment said Watson registered a home health care business called Unity Health Care in Fort Myers with the Florida Division of Corporations. She listed herself as manager and registered agent in September 2020. She then opened a bank account in the business' name to deposit the funds.

Searchable database: Who in Florida got Paycheck Protection Program loans?

COVID guilt: Former Lehigh Acres man pleads guilty on COVID relief fraud case; wife's case still active

Co-defendent: Former Lehigh Acres resident joins husband in pleading guilty on COVID-19 relief fraud case

The indictment said Watson applied for the loan via the bank and the Small Business Administration in April 2021 saying she operated UHC and that the PPP funds would help her meet payroll, retain workers, make mortgage payments, utility payments and lease payments for the business.

None of that was true, the indictment said.

Probation time: Fort Myers woman gets five years probation in bankruptcy fraud case involving hotel operations

Watson could receive up to 30 years in federal prison, fines up to $1 million and five years of supervised release. As part of her plea she will have to pay back the loan.

Federal prosecutors made a non-binding recommendation to the court that sentencing for Watson be made at the low end of guidelines.

Connect with breaking news reporter Michael Braun: MichaelBraunNP (Facebook), @MichaelBraunNP (Twitter) or mbraun@news-press.com.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Feds say Lehigh Acres woman lied to bank to get PPP loan of almost $400,000