A federal jury in Georgia has convicted Democrat Attorney and former Atlanta police officer Shelitha Robertson for fraudulently obtaining over $7 million in Pay check Protection Program (PPP) loans.
Robertson, who previously ran as a Democrat to become a superior court judge, used fraudulently obtained funds for her extravagant lifestyle.
Robertson purchased a Rolls-Royce, a motorcycle, and a $148,000 10-carat diamond ring.
While Robertson received PPP loans for her multiple companies, just one was operational at the time, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
In a bizarre twist to the case, Robertson blamed her friend and attorney, Chandra Norton, for the PPP loan applications.
Norton, who was also facing a separate prosecution, pleaded guilty.
However, the jury found Robertson guilty of three counts of wire fraud, single counts of money laundering, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Robertson was taken into custody pending her sentencing, which is scheduled for April next year.
Federal prosecutor Ariel Glasner disclosed that Robertson had threatened to kill Norton and another individual upon her arrest.
He said Robertson and Norton were not only close friends but criminal partners, collaborating to maximize their PPP loan gains.
Evidence showed Robertson transferring $50,000 in PPP funding to her daughter, withdrawing $25,000 in cash, and giving Norton $400,000.
But Robertson’s lawyer argued she was a victim of Norton’s scheme, describing Norton as “financially desperate.”
The two women were involved in companies awarded multimillion-dollar water and sewer infrastructure contracts in Atlanta, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution noted
Norton previously pleaded guilty in 2020 to a count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
She cooperated with the federal government against Robertson as a part of her plea deal.
NewsWeek noted, The Paycheck Protection Program was authorized as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in 2020.
“CARES Act loans were designed to help sustain small businesses during the pandemic, not to serve as a source of personal enrichment,” U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said in a statement when Robertson was indicted.
“We will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute anyone who fraudulently obtains these critical funds.”
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