The Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) was aimed at helping businesses keep their workforce employed during the COVID‐19 crisis. It worked well – the program pushed a significant amount of capital into the economy, allowing many small businesses to fend off catastrophic failure. Unfortunately, the SBA guidelines are vague and confusing and have led to many unintended and criminal consequences and civil financial penalties that far exceed PPP funds received.
The Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and multiple federal agencies have employed extensive resources to combat PPP-related fraud. Since the PPP began, hundreds of PPP loan recipients have been investigated for and charged with fraud in connection with their loan applications, and the government has seized millions of dollars in fraudulent loan proceeds under the federal forfeiture statutes. In addition to criminal prosecutions, the DOJ began pursuing civil enforcement actions earlier this year against PPP loan recipients under the False Claims Act (“FCA”) and the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act (“FIRREA”) for alleged false certifications, false representations about eligibility, and misuse of program funds.
The uptick in enforcement actions have been more highly publicized, prompting many borrowers to take a step back before applying for forgiveness to ensure that they are in compliance with the program.
Join this panel as their discussion will add clarity to the SBA guidelines so that you can more effectively counsel your business clients. They will also walk you through important considerations to help you keep your client from becoming a target of a fraud investigation.
- The track record for the PPP
- Risks associated with any PPP loan
- PPP loan certification requirements
- PPP loan forgiveness eligibility and risks
- Enforcement & public relations risks
- Investigations and enforcement
All attendees will receive the course book as a digital download. A printed copy of the course book is available, at a discount to attendees, for $40. Additional copies are available at full price. If you wish to purchase the printed version of the course book, please call PBI Customer Service at 800-932-4637. Please allow up to two weeks after the program for the printed versions of the course book to be shipped.
Recorded in January 2022.