A federal judge has sentenced Tametria Conner Dantzler, 39, of Montgomery, to one month in prison followed by a year of weekends in jail and three years of supervised release for defrauding COVID-19 relief programs. Dantzler is also ordered to repay over $927,000, the amount she unlawfully obtained through fraudulent applications to federal relief initiatives.
In August, Dantzler pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering charges related to loans acquired through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. She admitted to using some of the illicit funds to purchase a house and pay off a vehicle.
Court documents reveal that Dantzler submitted false statements on EIDL applications in June 2020, claiming that companies she created met the program’s requirements. As a result, she obtained approximately $927,338.47 in grants and forgivable loans to which she was not entitled. Additionally, she accepted fees or exchanged fake payroll checks to assist others in fraudulently obtaining over $1 million in relief funds.
U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson considered the need for punishment and deterrence alongside the potential harm to Dantzler’s children, some of whom have special needs, when determining the sentence.
Federal authorities continue to investigate and prosecute individuals who exploited pandemic relief programs for personal gain, emphasizing that such fraud constitutes a significant loss to U.S. taxpayers.
