PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria man who wrongly took money meant for businesses recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic is going to prison for the crime.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office says Samuel Powell II, 28, was sentenced to a year in prison after being convicted of Theft of Government Money.
Powell claimed he had opened a barber shop since 2018, and had been approved for $20,000 in federal Paycheck Protection Program money after claiming he had one employee and an annual payroll expense of $96,000.
Powell wasn’t a licensed barber and had not opened up a barber shop. He tried to withdraw $9,500 right away, then the same amount the next day, followed by a third $1,500 withdrawal.
Powell has been in U.S. Marshalls Custody ever since, authorities believe, he removed his electronic monitoring equipment and failed to show for a hearing in February.
