NYC Gazette

Anuli Okeke, the former vice president and manager of a New York branch of Popular Bank, was convicted yesterday afternoon by a federal jury in Brooklyn on all four counts of an indictment charging her with conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering conspiracy. The charges arose from a scheme led by Okeke to fraudulently obtain millions of dollars from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The verdict followed a one-week trial before United States District Judge Frederic Block. When sentenced, Okeke faces up to 30 years in prison.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for the Social Security Administration (SSA-OIG); James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge at the Federal Bureau of Investigation New York Field Office (FBI); Patricia Tarasca, Special Agent-in-Charge at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, New York Regional Office (FDIC OIG); Brian Tucker, Special Agent-in-Charge at the Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Eastern Region; and Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, Special Agent-in-Charge at the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Small Business Administration, Eastern Region Office (SBA-OIG), announced the verdict.

“While the global pandemic caused widespread economic and personal harm for so many, the defendant abused her trusted position at a bank to steal millions of dollars from programs designed to keep small businesses afloat and workers on payroll,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This verdict reaffirms that our Office and law enforcement partners continue to bring to justice those who took advantage of a global crisis to commit crimes.”

“The jury’s verdict confirms that Anuli Okeke’s actions were not only criminal but also exploitive, damaging the integrity of programs put in place to help those suffering during a time of national crisis. My office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate those who misuse the identities of others for their selfish devices,” stated SSA Inspector General Ennis. “I commend our law enforcement partners for their outstanding work in this investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecuting this case and holding Ms. Okeke accountable for her crimes.”

“Today the defendant in this case was held accountable for abusing her position as a banker to facilitate millions of dollars in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loans in exchange for kickbacks. The defendant used these stolen funds to enrich herself while small businesses were struggling during the pandemic,” stated FDIC-OIG Special Agent-in-Charge Tarasca. “The FDIC OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to protect the Nation’s financial system and hold accountable those individuals like Ms. Okeke who steal benefits designated to help those in need.”

“Anuli Okeke used her position to defraud the federal government out of pandemic relief funds for her own personal gain and will now pay the price for her crimes,” stated Special Agent-in-Charge Tucker at the Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. “We are proud to have worked with our federal law enforcement partners and U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold Ms. Okeke accountable.”

“The abuse of critical resources intended to support small businesses during a time of unprecedented need will not be tolerated,” stated SBA-OIG Special Agent-in-Charge McCall-Braithwaite. “Today’s verdict is a testament to our unwavering dedication to protecting SBA’s programs' integrity. Our collaboration with U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners is essential in ensuring that those who defraud government are brought to justice and taxpayer interests are protected.”

The CARES Act was enacted as emergency financial assistance related to economic effects from COVID-19 pandemic disruptions. It allocated funds through PPP loans meant for job retention expenses like payroll costs or utilities; these loans could be forgiven if certain conditions were met within specific timelines concerning usage percentages on specified expenses such as payrolls.

Additionally under EIDL program low-interest financing was available primarily targeting small businesses renters homeowners within disaster-declared regions which included provisions like $10k advances based upon employee count not requiring repayment

During trial evidence showed Okeke & co-conspirators fabricated loan tax documents stealing both PPP EIDL funds knowing applications contained falsehoods assisting applicants submitting them receiving proceeds later split via kickbacks similarly submitting own fraudulent EIDL loan taking unauthorized commissions legitimate recipients

Okeke boasted about earnings writing notes found desk detailing significant monthly income around scheme period bank accounts saw increased cash deposits

Seven co-conspirators pled guilty earlier related wire bank fraud conspiracies aiding prosecution team handled by International Narcotics Money Laundering Section Criminal Division Fraud Section

Defendant: ANULI OKEKE Age: 52 Bronx NY E.D.N.Y Docket No 22 CR 20 FB