Federal Analyst Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining COVID Relief Loans

A pretty surprising turn of events unfolded in Farmington Hills, when Tiesha Johnson, a 56-year-old former analyst for the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, made a no contest plea in court. The topic at hand? Fraudulently obtaining Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loans and an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) from the Federal Government.

Johnson, pled to three counts of false pretenses, between $1,000-$20,000, and agreed to pay back a total of $34,675. This isn’t peanuts we’re talking about here, folks.

The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Inspector General was the one who tipped off the Michigan Department of Attorney General, requesting an investigation into potential federal loan fraud back in July 2022. Johnson was then found to have fraudulently obtained two PPP loans and one EIDL advance, adding up to $34,675, while still being a federal employee.

These PPP Loans were meant to cover the salaries of workers during the heights of the COVID-19 pandemic precautions. So, this has stirred up quite the controversy.

This drama didn’t end there. Johnson was later arrested in Dallas, TX on Department of Attorney General warrants, and was brought back to Michigan, where she was arraigned in December 2023.

This story is a reminder that no crime goes unnoticed, and justice is always served eventually. Keep following for further updates.