EUGENE, Ore.—The owner of three businesses pleaded guilty yesterday for stealing more than $487,386.75 in federal funds intended to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jodi Aliece Jennings, 50, of Junction City, Oregon, pleaded guilty to wire fraud.
According to court documents, between April 2020 and January 2022, Jennings applied for and obtained six Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans and one Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) Advance and submitted three fraudulent forgiveness applications for Meridian Redevelopment, J Jenn Enterprises Inc., and J2 Investments. Jennings falsely claimed each company was in business and paid payroll prior to and during the pandemic. Jennings used these loans on personal expenses…