BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A Leland-based furniture company has agreed to pay nearly $1.5 million in restitution and penalties for fraudulently obtaining and seeking forgiveness for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, federal prosecutors said.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Campbell Sales Group, Inc., doing business as LeatherItaliaUSA, admitted to inflating payroll figures in order to meet loan forgiveness requirements under the PPP, a COVID-19 relief program established by Congress in 2020.
The DOJ said CSG received a $257,700 loan in April 2020. After receiving the funds, the company falsely claimed to have added employees and increased wages—when in fact, some individuals listed on the payroll didn’t work for the company and never received payment…