Former Georgia SBA and IRS Employee Charged in $3.5M Pandemic Fraud Scheme
ATLANTA, GA — A Georgia woman is facing federal charges after allegedly orchestrating a bold, multi-year scheme to steal more than $3.5 million from COVID-19 relief programs by infiltrating the very agencies designed to protect them.
Attallah Williams, 32, of Hampton, Georgia, was arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Elizabeth McBath. Prosecutors allege she used her positions at both the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to facilitate a massive bribery and kickback ring.
Infiltrating the Federal Government
According to the criminal information, Williams’ scheme was a two-phase betrayal of public trust that spanned three years:
- Phase One (The SBA): While employed as a loan officer for the SBA, Williams allegedly used her insider credentials to manually approve fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications. She reportedly used Instagram to recruit “accomplices,” promising them a cut of the funds if they submitted applications for non-existent businesses under her guidance.
- Phase Two (The IRS): After leaving the SBA, Williams obtained a position as a tax examining technician at the IRS. There, she allegedly helped co-conspirators submit fraudulent tax documents to claim payments under the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERC) program, charging a fee for every successful application.
Recruitment via Social Media
Investigators say Williams was “brazen” in her approach, using Instagram advertisements and direct messages to highlight her insider access. She allegedly built a network of conspirators by promising referral payments for every new participant they brought into the fraud ring.
“Williams allegedly exploited her federal employment, stole millions of dollars from generous government programs, and brazenly recruited other participants through social media,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg.
The Total Impact
In total, the government alleges Williams filed or approved false claims for more than $3.5 million across four separate programs:
- Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL)
- EIDL Advance Grants
- Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
- Employee Retention Tax Credits (ERC)
Agencies Involved in the Bust
The massive investigation required a rare level of inter-agency cooperation to track Williams as she moved between federal departments:
- FBI Atlanta
- SBA Office of Inspector General
- IRS Criminal Investigation
- Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA)
- DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office
Williams is currently charged with conspiracy to defraud the government with respect to claims. While she is presumed innocent until proven guilty, officials emphasized that this case serves as a warning to any “bad actors” attempting to embed themselves within government institutions for personal gain.
