The ex-assistant metropolis legal professional of Atlanta who was jailed for defrauding the federal authorities out of $15 million in COVID aid loans additionally made a donation to the native DA.
Shelitha Robertson, 62, donated $1,000 to Fani Willis’s Democratic major election marketing campaign across the time she received the large payouts – obtained after declaring inflated companies to the Paycheck Safety Program (PPP), filings present.
A number of years later, the Georgia jurist would cost former President Donald Trump with racketeering following a 13-count indictment accused him of making an attempt to illegally overturn the 2020 election.
Trump is one among 19 indicted within the sprawling case, which was halted Wednesday because of Robertson’s arrest.
Additionally a life recommendation podcaster, Robertson used the funds meant for small companies to purchase a ten carat diamond ring, a Rolls Royce, and a motorbike, whereas Trump, 77, continues to disclaim any wrongdoing.
Shelitha Robertson, the ex-assistant metropolis legal professional of Atlanta jailed for defrauding the federal authorities out of $15 million, made a donation to the native DA, Fani Willis, shortly thereafter
The donation, furthermore, was dished out Could 22, 2020, lower than two months earlier than the PPP program was frantically rolled out.
Round that point, Robertson – who has remained on bond since pleading not responsible to the 5 expenses of fraud in December 2022 – claimed she wanted the money to assist 4 companies she owned.
The request was granted, at the same time as she erroneously claimed she presided over a workforce of greater than 400, which means she was entitled to tens of millions in emergency handouts.
In actuality, she was falsely inflating these numbers and month-to-month payrolls with false supporting tax documentation, fed stated at her sentencing.
There, U.S. Lawyer Ryan Okay. Buchanan decried Robertson for her actions, citing her pedigree as a former police officer and legal professional for the town of Atlanta.
‘Motivated by greed, Robertson deceptively obtained funds that have been designated to offer emergency monetary aid to struggling small companies in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic,’ he stated of the fraudster, who was additionally a profitable businesswoman.
‘Right now the defendant on this case was held accountable for fraudulently acquiring tens of millions of {dollars} via the Paycheck Safety Program and utilizing these stolen funds to counterpoint herself, whereas small companies have been struggling,’ added Kyle A. Myles, Particular Agent in Cost of the Federal Deposit Insurance coverage Company, Workplace of Inspector Basic, Atlanta Area (FDIC OIG).
Filings present how the disgraced jurist donated $1,000 to the Democrat’s major election marketing campaign in 2020, across the time she received the large payouts, She received them after offering inflated companies to the Paycheck Safety Program (PPP), meant for small companies
‘The FDIC OIG stays dedicated to working with our legislation enforcement companions to pursue and convey to justice those that took benefit of such pandemic aid packages and threatened the integrity of our Nation’s monetary establishments.’
He went on to explain how Robertson and confirmed confederate Chandra Norton submitted fraudulent purposes on behalf of 4 companies Robertson truly owned, leading to $7,020,779 in PPP funds deposited into her financial institution accounts.
Robertson then used the proceeds for her private profit, he stated – citing the purchases of luxurious objects like a 10-carat diamond ring and the transferring funds to relations and Norton, feds stated.
the Rolls and different objects have been purchased as properly, and officers traced three wire transfers made within the month of Could 2020 alone.
They amounted to greater than $5million – a 3rd of the outrageous sum secured by Robertson and her co-conspirators.
It isn’t but identified whether or not Willis – the DA of Fulton County – might be included in that class when all is alleged and accomplished, as officers look into the extent of their relationship.
Within the interim, Fulton County Superior Decide Scott McAfee final week advised the court docket the the case might be on maintain indefinitely – till a panel of judges guidelines on whether or not Willis must be disqualified.
After receiving Robertson’s donation, Willis went on to defeat her boss – who was additionally stricken by scandal – in longtime district legal professional Paul Howard, following a contentious Democratic major and runoff in August 2020.
Snippet from the felony indictment of Shelitha Robertson that present the fictional corporations into which tens of millions of {dollars} have been paid via authorities funds
Court docket paperwork filed in federal court docket present how tens of millions of {dollars} have been distributed to Robertson’s inflated companies
As for Robertson, she was sentenced to 849 days in jail Friday, with 637 days credit score served and 212 days of excellent time credit score.
That quantities to condemn of about seven years, after which she additionally might be on probation for 44 months.
She served as assistant metropolis legal professional for the town of Atlanta within the early 2000s, after working as a police officer for greater than decade.
She went on to finish legislation college, and construct up up a number of profitable companies.
Amongst them was her and her influencer daughter’s podcast ‘Mommy and Me’, during which the pair mentioned ‘navigating life’s challenges’ and supply recommendation.
In a single section from October 2023 paradoxically billed as ‘integrity over {dollars}’, Robertson suggested followers to ‘chase their dream’ as a result of ‘ cash will come’.
‘When you’ve gotten a ardour for one thing that you simply love, you are able to do it free of charge. Do not ever chase the cash,’ she says within the resurfaced clip.
‘The cash will come. Chase your ardour, Chase your dream. The cash will come.’
Her daughter, Brii Renee, posted a glowing tribute to her mom just some weeks in the past – properly after the fraud allegations got here to gentle and as proof in opposition to her piled up.
Robertson – seen her offering monetary and life recommendation on her podcast – was sentenced to 849 days in jail Friday, with 637 days credit score served and 212 days of excellent time credit score
Willis’s workplace has but to touch upon the sentencing or the donation, as her case in opposition to Trump stays quickly referred to as off as officers vet her and Robertson’s relationship
Trump is one among 19 indicted within the sprawling case, which was halted Wednesday because of Robertson’s arrest
‘I would not be who I’m at present with out the superb mom, instance, hustler, you’re!’, she wrote on the time, sharing the publish to her greater than 600,000 Instagram followers.
‘Thanks for each sacrifice you made and each dream you pushed me to realize!’
A number of months earlier, a federal jury convicted Robertson of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and cash laundering – the identical expenses that noticed her sentenced Friday.
There, Northern District Court docket of Georgia, Robertson broke down in tears upon listening to she would spend the subsequent seven years behind bars.
She advised the court docket she was “useless broke,’ and that her ‘enterprise is gone.
‘My (legislation) license is gone. My belongings are gone.’ she continued. The one factor I’ve left is my household and my religion in God,” she stated.
Robertson will get credit score for the six months she’s spent in custody since December, which together with the great conduct credit, shed 20 months off her sentence.
Willis’s workplace has but to touch upon the sentencing or the donation, which was first reported Sunday by The New York Publish.
Robertson’s sentence, in the meantime, is already underway.
