2 IRS Employees From Suffolk Charged With Grand Larceny: DA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Two Internal Revenue Service employees were arrested, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said on Friday.

Tina White, 36, of Bellport, and Shawana Williams, 45, of Centereach, were accused of stealing thousands of dollars by filing separate, fraudulent Small Business Administration loan applications, Tierney said.

"These individuals are alleged to have stolen government funds by abusing a program intended to help legitimate small business owners pay their employees during the COVID-19 pandemic," Tierney said in a news release. "I want to thank the United States Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration for working with my office to investigate and prosecute those who would steal taxpayer funds."

On May 7, 2020, and July 6, 2020, respectively, White and Williams filed COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications with the Small Business Administration and claimed to be the owners of businesses in need of financial assistance because of the economic impact of the pandemic, prosecutors said.

White claimed to be the chief operating officer of an agricultural business, while Williams claimed to be the chief operating officer of a medical services business, investigators said.

Neither business existed, however, the DA said.

White received $6,000 and Williams received $4,000 as initial cash advancements while their respective loan applications were being processed, officials said. Both loan applications were ultimately denied, but White and Williams never returned the illicit money they received, authorities said.

White and Williams were each charged with one count of third-degree grand larceny.

Williams was also charged with first-degree offering a false instrument for filing and first-degree falsifying business records.

White and Williams were arrested Thursday. Both were released on their own recognizance while their cases are decided. White is due back in court on Oct. 23 and is being represented by Michael Brown. Williams is due back in court on Oct. 26 and is being represented by the Legal Aid Society.