Framingham Woman Gets Prison Time For Pandemic Relief Fraud

FRAMINGHAM, MA — A Framingham businesswoman will serve five months in prison for submitting fraudulent loan applications seeking COVID-19 relief.

Vanessa Nixon, 45, of Framingham, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to five months in prison and three years of supervised release. Nixon was also ordered to pay $468,832 in restitution and forfeiture. In March 2024, Nixon pleaded guilty to bank fraud.

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.