Cousins sentenced for defrauding COVID-19 relief programs

Ryan K. Buchanan, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia

Johnny Narcisse and his cousin Johnson Dieujuste have been sentenced to prison for defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program of over $2 million. Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. stated, "These defendants brazenly stole funds from programs designed to help individuals and businesses suffering during the COVID-19 pandemic."

In July 2021, federal agents executed a search warrant at Johnny Narcisse's home in Georgia, uncovering evidence of a conspiracy with Johnson Dieujuste to recruit small business owners and file fraudulent applications for COVID-19 relief loans on their behalf. The scheme involved inventing information needed for loan applications, with borrowers returning a portion of the proceeds to Narcisse and Dieujuste.

Johnny Narcisse, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Eleanor L. Ross to two years and four months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay restitution of $2,000,332 after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Johnson Dieujuste, 37, received a sentence of two years and eight months in prison followed by three years of supervised release from Judge Ross. He was ordered to pay restitution of $2,081,559 after pleading guilty to the same charge.

Both men also filed fraudulent COVID-19 loan applications for themselves. These actions were considered during sentencing and included in their restitution orders.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and Small Business Administration's Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S Attorney Alana R. Black and Trial Attorneys Jennifer Bilinkas and David A. Peters from the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.

The COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force was established on May 17, 2021, by the Attorney General to combat pandemic-related fraud through collaboration among government agencies.

Information about attempted COVID-19 fraud can be reported via the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline or Web Complaint Form.

For more details contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office or visit their website.