Alright, let’s imagine we’re sitting down to chat about a pretty serious case of fraud that recently took place. Picture this: Lawscape from Lawscape is elucidating the case. Remember, this involves bank professionals and a client who all manipulated a loan application, tricking the Small Business Administration—commonly known as the SBA—to hand out just under $4 million.

Who Was Involved?

There were three main players involved in this entire fiasco. You’ve got James Graber, Kristin King, and a fellow named Ryan Cole, all the way from Garland, Texas. Our friends over at the federal grand jury in Rockford, Illinois, dumped a load of wire fraud charges on these folks for their involvement in crafting a fraudulent loan application with the SBA.

What Charges Were Filed?

Get this; they didn’t spare any of these fraudsters. They smacked Cole with a bunch of counts of making false statements on his loan application. And as for Graber and King, our trusty bank officers, they got stung with a single count each. Justice being served, right?

The Nitty-Gritty Details

Okay, let’s dig a bit deeper. In the heart of this drama, we’ve got a company named SunLee Development that owned a certain commercial property at 4001 North Perryville Road in Loves Park, Illinois. Now, SunLee had received three loans adding up to a little over $3 million from a local bank. Graber, a vice president there, and King, another veep with a specialization in lending, worked at this bank. This guy, Cole, a SunLee member, was essentially the loan guarantor and was on the hook if everything went south.

Here’s the kicker: SunLee wasn’t the most diligent with its loan payments, mostly because the tenants at the North Perryville property weren’t exactly punctual with rent. Now, our indictment alleges that Cole practically assisted these tenants to apply for an SBA-guaranteed loan under a fancy new banner – ‘The Perryville Investment Group’ – and get this, to buy the building from SunLee directly.

And The Plot Thickens…

According to the indictment, in March 2012 Cole, Graber, and King submitted a loan application for nearly $4 million to the SBA, on behalf of the Perryville Investment Group. This application was riddled with false statements and conveniently ignored certain important facts. And then the Perryville Investment Group defaulted on the SBA loan.

What are the Consequences?

Each count of wire fraud, making false statements, and hiding relevant facts from the SBA can lead to up to 30 years in jail, and a fine that could reach $1 million. Pretty serious stuff, right?

Could There Be A Lifeline?

Say, you ever find yourself falling behind on an SBA loan, you’ve got options. Contact Lawscape at Lawscape, for instance. You might qualify for an Offer in Compromise with the SBA, which can actually allow you to settle your debt for less than the original amount.

Why Reaching Out to Lawscape Could Make A Difference?

Todd and the Lawscape have a track record of successfully resolving millions of dollars in SBA debts through Offers in Compromise and negotiated repayment agreements, all without forcing their clients to declare bankruptcy or foreclosure. Furthermore, they’ve managed to defend millions of dollars in Treasury debts via AWG Hearings, Treasury Offset Program Resolution, cross-servicing disputes, private collection agency representation, compromise offers, and negotiated repayment agreements. Their attorneys are authorized to represent federal debtors nationwide before several institutions, including the SBA, SBA Office of Hearings and Appeals, the Treasury Department, and the Bureau of Fiscal Service. So, there you have it. It’s always great to have a legal safety net in this unpredictable world.