2 Long Islanders Fraudulently Obtained Pandemic Loans, Feds Say

NEW YORK, NY — Nineteen people, including two from Nassau County, were charged on Wednesday, in a scheme to defraud the federal government by illegally obtaining pandemic relief loans, federal prosecutors said.

Yolanda Ratcliff, 48, of Inwood, is among those charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.

Jarod Ottley, 57, of Valley Stream, is charged with wire fraud. Both Ratcliff and Ottley could face the maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, the federal government said.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: "Scheming to steal Government funds intended to help small businesses weather a national emergency is offensive. And, as public employees, these folks should have known better. This Office will continue to prosecute those who use fraud to line their pockets with taxpayer money."

Ratcliff is accused of conspiring with others to obtain fraudulent Small Business Administration loans. Ratcliff was an employee of the NYPD, Williams said.

Ottley, who worked for the New York City Department of Transportation, is accused of submitting one or more fraudulent applications for loans under the SBA’s PPP and/or EIDL program.

SBA-OIG Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite said: "It is especially egregious when individuals that hold positions of public trust engage in criminal activity."