Eastern District of North Carolina | Raleigh Basketball Scout and Life Coach Convicted for Obtaining Nearly $300,000 in Fraudulent COVID-19 Relief Loans in Nationwide Scheme

RALEIGH, N.C. – Following four days of testimony before a federal jury, a Raleigh man and business owner pled guilty to a Bank Fraud and Wire Fraud, that netted the man almost $300,000 in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Act (PPP) COVID-19 loans.  This fraud was part of a multimillion-dollar national scheme, and, to date, more than 30 defendants have pled guilty and 26 have been sentenced.

“Lamont Taylor ran a business scouting players who hustled on the court, but ran his own hustle off the court, fraudulently securing over $300,000 in PPP relief funds,” said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. “While most of us were trying to help our neighbors navigate a global pandemic, this talent scout and ‘life coach’ was helping himself to relief funds.  We will continue to investigate and prosecute those that choose fraud over goodwill.”

“The Paycheck Protection Program was meant to aid those affected the most during the pandemic,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, Charlotte Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “Today’s plea shows the defendant conspired to fraudulently obtain federal funds. Through our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and other federal law enforcement partners, our special agents will continue to pursue individuals who try to exploit federal relief programs for their personal gain.”

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Earl Lamont Taylor, age 52, worked with Quentin Jackson and Edward Whitaker to obtain fraudulent PPP loans.  Jackson pled guilty in November 2022 and Whitaker pled guilty in January 2023. Taylor was referred to Whitaker by Jackson, and, with Whitaker’s assistance, Taylor applied for and received loans for two businesses, Get Me Recruited, LLC (a basketball scouting and tournament staging business) and Changing the Game Life Coach (purportedly a life coaching service for young athletes). The total received for both loans was $291,665.50, and Taylor paid Whitaker $72,917.24 for his assistance. In addition to the fraudulent loans, the trial evidence showed that Taylor also cashed alleged “payroll” checks for Jackson on Jackson’s PPP loans.

Information presented at the trial showed that Get Me Recruited, LLC did have business in 2019 and 2020, but employees listed on the loan application testified that they never made more than $2,000 per year and were not regularly salaried employees. The loan application submitted by Taylor listed their annual salaries as being between $110,145 and $128,416. In contrast, Changing the Game Life Coach did not appear to have any meaningful business during the relevant period and employees testified that they had never done any work for the company, and the bank account associated with the business was only open to receive the loan disbursement.

Taylor faces up to 30 years in prison when sentenced.

Other defendants that have been sentenced in the broader “Loanstarters” PPP scheme involving Edward Whitaker include:

• Albert Eugene Miller, Jr. [Case No. 5-22-CR-00290-D]
• Jonathan Fleming [Case No. 5-22-CR-00337-D]
• Nekita Hooks [Case No. 5-23-CR-00025-D]
• Denise Coit Alston [Case No. 5-23-CR-00077-D]
• Monica Faye Barnes [Case No. 5:23-CR-00094-D]
• Dontrell Barnes [Case No. 5-23-CR-00094-D]
• Isaac Lamont Dawson [Case No. 5:23-CR-0097-D]
• Irene Edwards [Case No. 5-23-CR-00098-D]
• Natosia Jerome Jenkins [Case No. 5:23-CR-00167-D]
• Ronald L. Jones [Case No. 5:23-CR-00339-D]
• Delvin Dashavone Felder [Case No. 5:23-CR-00198]
• Shun Lamont Gibbs [Case No. 5:23-CR-00346-D]
• Teresa Ann McRae [Case No. 5:23-CR-00313-D]
• Dontae Antonio Murphy [Case No. 5:24-CR-00072]
• Jackson Ndoyo [Case No. 5-23-CR-00118-D]
• Terron Cortez Parker [Case No. 5-23-CR-00081-D]
• Ayyub Abdur Rasheed [Case No. 5:23-CR-00314-D]
• Karim Aziz Razzak [Case No. 5:23-CR-00324]
• Toni A. Smith [Case No. 5:23-CR-00312-D]
• Darian Casteele Tyler [Case No. 5:23-CR-00338-D]
• Shakeerah Kaneisha Yvette Vinson [Case No. 5-23-CR-00027-D]
• Anthony S. Whitaker [Case No. 5:23-CR-00311-D]
• James Elton Watson Case No. 5:23-CR-00323-D]
• Shara Monique Wells [Case No. 5:23-CR-00323-D]
• Kami D. Woodard [Case No. 5-23-CR-00095-D]
• Lenille Woodard [Case No. 5-23-CR-00138-D]

Defendants awaiting sentencing include:

• Hanif Abdul-Hakim [Case No. 5:24-CR-00109-D]
• Schunda Coleman [Case No. 5-22-CR-00257-D]
• Quentin Jackson [Case No. 5-22-CR-180-D]
• Everett M. McBride [Case No. 5:24-CR-00036-D]
• Edward Whitaker [Case No. 5-22-CR-00257-D]

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who were economically suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic.  The CARES Act and additional appropriations authorized up to $649 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).  Financial institutions issued the PPP loans, which were guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA).

Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III accepted the plea. Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations is investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys William M.  Gilmore and David Beraka are prosecuting the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-00335-D.