For their roles in a plot to cheat the U.S. government of almost $2 million, two cousins, Johnny Narcisse and Johnson Dieujuste, were given jail sentences.
Dieujuste, 37, of Loganville, and Narcisse, 46, of Atlanta, were found guilty of their participation in the fraudulent acquisition of monies from the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
In the end, the operation led to the illegal distribution of millions of dollars in loans by exploiting the COVID-19 assistance programs intended to help small companies during the pandemic.
When federal authorities executed a search warrant at Narcisse’s Georgia house in 2021 while investigating possible tax violations involving a Florida citizen, the probe into their actions got underway.
They discovered a wealth of information on Narcisse’s phone and computer that connected him and his cousin Dieujuste to a scheme to swindle the government.
They had been obtaining COVID-19 relief loans for small business owners using false information, with the intention of stealing some of the money when the loans were authorized.
Employer identification numbers (EINs), company names, and the identities of small business owners were obtained by Narcisse and Dieujuste in order to recruit them. In order to make the companies seem qualified for the relief funds, they falsified the remaining information needed for the loan applications, including revenue and other financial data, after obtaining this information.
They were able to obtain loans totaling over $2 million after submitting the fake applications. After the loans were distributed, Narcisse and Dieujuste made arrangements for the borrowers to reimburse them a portion of the loan balance in exchange for their assistance.
After entering guilty pleas to one count of conspiracy to conduct wire fraud, both cousins were found guilty. Narcisse received a sentence of three years of supervised release after serving two years and four months in federal prison.
In addition to his jail term, he was mandated to reimburse the government $2,000,332. Dieujuste was given three years of supervised release in addition to a significantly longer prison term of two years and eight months.
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He was mandated to pay $2,081,559 in restitution. In 2024, both were condemned; Dieujuste was found guilty on September 24 and Narcisse on October 21.
The repercussions of abusing government assistance programs designed to help individuals in need are starkly illustrated by this instance.
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In addition to causing the U.S. government to suffer large financial losses, Narcisse and Dieujuste’s conduct damaged the confidence that the public had in these programs during a moment of national emergency.
Their penalties demonstrate the gravity of the authorities’ pursuit of such fraudulent operations.
