A Jacksonville woman has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for her role in a fraudulent credit scheme and COVID relief fraud. Crystal Denean Harvell, 37, was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and PPP loan fraud. She has been ordered to pay $131,782.63 in restitution and forfeit $20,415 linked to the fraudulent loan. Harvell pleaded guilty on September 4, 2024.
Court records show that from February 2016 to September 2019, Harvell and her associates illegally obtained Social Security numbers to apply for lines of credit at various businesses. They used the fraudulent credit to purchase jewelry and other items, some of which were later resold online.
In April 2021, Harvell submitted a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan application, falsely claiming to operate a business. Her application contained fabricated details about her income and expenses, including a falsified IRS Form 1040. Based on these false claims, her loan was approved for $20,415.
After receiving the funds, Harvell spent the money on personal expenses instead of legitimate business costs. Later, in October 2021, she submitted a fraudulent loan forgiveness application, falsely stating that she had used more than $18,000 for payroll. The SBA approved her request, forgiving the full loan amount along with accrued interest.
The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Secret Service’s Jacksonville Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin C. Frein prosecuted the case, with asset forfeiture handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer M. Harrington.
Updated: March 11, 2025
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