Framingham Business Owner Pleads Guilty To Bank Fraud

BOSTON, MA — A Massachusetts businesswoman pleaded guilty on Friday to submitting fraudulent loan applications seeking COVID-19 relief, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Massachusetts announced.

Vanessa Nixon, 45, of Framingham, pleaded guilty to bank fraud. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for June 26, 2024. Nixon was charged in February 2024.

Officials said Nixon was the owner and operator of multiple businesses in Massachusetts, including Mass Homes Investments LLC, Nixon Homes LTD and Alpha Auto Body, Inc.

Between April 2020 and November 2022, Nixon submitted multiple fraudulent loan applications in the names of her various businesses to banks and the U.S. Small Business Administration through the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program that fabricated millions in business income, officials said.

Nixon also created fake tax documents that she submitted with the loan applications to substantiate the fabricated business income, officials added.

Officials said Nixon received more than $450,000 in loans that were subsequently forgiven by banks and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The charge of bank fraud comes with a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million.