The Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Small Business Administration, and the SBA Office of Inspector General announced the results of Operation No Doze on September 14, 2026. The operation targeted over 160 criminal defendants in fraud involving SBA small business COVID-era loan programs, with an intended loss to American taxpayers of approximately $245 million.

Federal prosecutors obtained felony charges against nearly 80 defendants responsible for approximately $100 million in intended loss during the summer surge. These enforcement actions occurred between June 12 and September 1, 2026, as part of a Heartland Fraud Surge. Over 40 U.S. Attorney’s Offices assisted in these efforts.

Approximately 43 defendants pleaded guilty to SBA-related COVID fraud with an intended loss of approximately $44 million. Additionally, approximately 40 defendants were sentenced for SBA-related COVID fraud with an intended loss of nearly $100 million. The SBA also announced suspended borrowers tied to $39 billion in suspected fraudulent PPP and COVID EIDL activity.

Specific cases included Jamie Gray, who is charged with wire fraud and money laundering involving an intended loss of $55 million. Adrian Pupo Perez and Helen Yaima Leyva Santiesteban are charged in a case with an intended loss of $2.4 million. Eve Zou is charged with making false representations to obtain EIDL funds totaling $319,800, while Melissa Fireside is charged with attempting to fraudulently obtain approximately $1.6 million in PPP and EIDL funds.

Operation No Doze is a result of President Donald J. Trump’s creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division at the DOJ. This division is the first new division in the DOJ in twenty years. "Pandemic loan relief was meant to keep American small businesses alive during government lockdowns—not line the pockets of fraudsters," said Attorney General Todd Blanche. "The defendants charged during our summer surge allegedly fabricated businesses, submitted false payroll and revenue claims, stole identities, and concealed foreign ties on their applications— but they will now be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Blanche said.

"This summer surge shows what is possible when dedicated public servants across the country work together with a single purpose," said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald. "Our mission is clear: protect taxpayer funds, safeguard the integrity of federal relief programs, and deliver justice to those who exploited them," he said.

Today’s announcement represents a major action against perpetrators of SBA fraud, with suspended borrowers tied to $39 billion in suspected fraudulent PPP and COVID EIDL activity, said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. In partnership with Vice President Vance and the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, we’re putting fraudsters on notice: the federal government will no longer turn a blind eye to those who stole from taxpayers and exploited programs designed to sustain small businesses during the pandemic. "With demand letters going out to suspected fraudsters, we’re also sending a clear message that they must repay their debts or face Treasury collections and possible federal law enforcement," she said. "Under this Administration, the free ride is over," Loeffler said.