Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged a suburban Cook County man alleging he fraudulently received two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for over $41,000 while employed by the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.
The Attorney General’s office charged Raymond Harris, 44, of Calumet Park, Illinois with one count of theft exceeding $10,000 and not exceeding $100,000, a Class 2 felony punishable by up to seven years in prison; one count of loan fraud, a Class 2 felony punishable by up to seven years in prison; one count of wire fraud, a Class 3 felony punishable by up to five years in prison; one count of forgery, a Class 3 felony punishable by up to five years in prison; and one count of income tax fraud, a Class 4 felony punishable by up to three years in prison. Harris’ next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 16.
Sentences are ultimately determined by the court.
“It is unconscionable any public employee would take advantage of COVID-era assistance programs that were intended to ensure small businesses and unemployed Americans survived the pandemic. It is especially egregious when those alleged to have defrauded these vital programs were employed by law enforcement agencies,” Raoul said. “I will continue to work to hold individuals accountable who took advantage of the pandemic for financial gain.”
Attorney General Raoul’s office alleges Harris was employed by the Cook County Sheriff’s Office when he fraudulently applied for two PPP loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration by falsely claiming that he owned a sole proprietorship business that did not exist. According to Raoul’s office, Harris received $20,833 in April 2021 and $20,833 in June 2021 based on the fraudulent applications.
The Attorney General’s office is prosecuting this case based on a referral from the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.
The charges are the most recent action in Attorney General Raoul’s ongoing efforts to hold individuals accountable for fraudulently collecting government assistance related to the pandemic. In June, Raoul’s office announced charges against 15 government employees for PPP loan fraud.
The public is reminded that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Assistant Attorney General Peter Ravoori is prosecuting the case for Raoul’s Criminal Prosecutions and Trials Assistance Bureau.
