In a notable case of fraud and illegal activity, 30-year-old trucker Roderick Bashon Billingslea, Jr. from Dacula, Georgia, has been sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison. His crimes include fraudulently obtaining a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan during the COVID-19 pandemic and operating illegal trucking businesses that had been ordered to shut down by federal authorities due to severe safety violations.
The PPP and Billingslea’s Fraudulent Activities
The PPP was established by the U.S. government to provide financial assistance to businesses struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA), the PPP offered forgivable loans to businesses to help them retain employees and cover essential expenses. However, like many other emergency relief programs, the PPP became a target for fraudsters looking to exploit it for personal gain.
Billingslea’s fraudulent scheme started in June 2020 when he applied for a PPP loan for his trucking company, Billingslea, Inc. Despite being barred from operating the business by the Department of Transportation (DOT), he falsified his application, claiming he was not prohibited from operating a trucking business. He also exaggerated the number of employees and the monthly wages paid by his company to secure a larger loan. These falsified documents enabled him to secure a PPP loan amounting to $564,363.
Instead of using the funds to support legitimate business operations, Billingslea channeled the money into running illegal trucking businesses. In a brazen violation of the DOT’s orders, he registered multiple new trucking entities under false names and addresses, effectively bypassing federal regulations. By stealing the corporate identities of legitimate trucking companies, Billingslea managed to keep his illegal operations under the radar.
Illegal Trucking Operations and Endangerment of Public Safety
The roots of Billingslea’s criminal activity date back to January 2020, when the DOT ordered his business to cease operations due to multiple safety violations. The violations were serious enough that the DOT not only shut down Billingslea, Inc. but also prohibited him from creating any successor entities. However, Billingslea blatantly ignored these orders, using false identities and registrations to continue operating.
Unveiling the PPP Fraud: Sentencing and Implications for Financial Crime
To keep his illegal trucking operations going, Billingslea employed unsuspecting truck drivers who were unaware of the illegitimacy of the businesses. These drivers were often let go after they incurred DOT violations, and Billingslea would then move on to establish a new entity, repeating the cycle. This reckless approach not only violated federal laws but also put public safety at significant risk.
Federal Investigation and Legal Consequences
The scale and audacity of Billingslea’s fraud did not go unnoticed. His activities were eventually uncovered through a federal investigation led by the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General (DOT OIG), the Small Business Administration’s Office of Inspector General (SBA OIG), and the U.S. Secret Service. The investigation revealed the full extent of Billingslea’s fraudulent activities, including the misuse of PPP funds and the continued operation of illegal trucking businesses.
In April 2024, Billingslea pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and record falsification. On August 13, 2024, U.S. District Court Judge Leigh Martin May sentenced him to two years and six months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In addition to his prison sentence, Billingslea was ordered to pay restitution of $591,668.89—the amount he fraudulently obtained through the PPP loan—and to cover the cost of his incarceration, which amounts to $49,770 annually.
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A Broader Effort to Combat Pandemic-Related Fraud
Billingslea’s case is part of a larger, ongoing effort by federal authorities to crack down on fraud related to pandemic relief programs. In May 2021, the Attorney General created the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to unify efforts among government agencies in identifying and prosecuting individuals who exploited pandemic relief programs, such as the PPP.
This case highlights the importance of oversight in safeguarding taxpayer dollars and ensuring that critical relief programs are not abused by those seeking personal gain. As federal authorities continue their efforts to investigate and prosecute such crimes, Billingslea’s sentence serves as a warning to others who might consider defrauding the government or engaging in illegal business activities.
