Former Cincinnati mayoral candidate charged in COVID-19 fraud scheme, court docs show Kelli Prather (Source: Provided) By Jared Goffinet | April 6, 2021 at 3:41 PM EDT - Updated April 6 at 6:11 PM
CINCINNATI (FOX19) - A former Cincinnati mayoral candidate could face up to 30 years in prison after being charged in a federal COVID-19 fraud scheme, the acting U.S. attorney for the southern district of Ohio said.
Kelli Prather, 48, is accused of applying for six Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for six businesses through the CARES Act COVID-19 relief fund.
The PPP is a loan designed to provide an incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll.
4 charged, including former Cincinnati mayoral candidate, in COVID-19 fraud schemes Share Updated: 6:09 PM EDT Apr 6, 2021 WLWT Digital Staff Share Updated: 6:09 PM EDT Apr 6, 2021
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Show Transcript KNOW SO FAR, DAN. WELL, ASHLEY AND STEPHEN I CAN TELL YOU INVESTIGATORS SAY THAT KELLY PRAY THEIR LIED ABOUT NOT ONLY OWNING BUSINESSES, BUT ALSO EMPLOYING OTHERS THEY SAY SHE CLAIMED TO BE THE OWNER OF SIX BUSINESSES SEEKING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN PANDEMIC RELIEF MONEY. THEY SAY THE FARMER MAYORAL CANDIDATE CLAIM TO OWN BUSINESSES INCLUDING ENHANCED HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS RELIABLE AMBULANCE SERVICES AND ARE US BUT THE RESEARCH SHOWED THAT MANY OF THEM WERE REGISTERED BUT DIDN’T APPEAR TO BE OPERATIONAL INVESTIGATORS SAY PRAY FOR HAD SIX DIFFERENT PENDING PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM LOAN APPLICATIONS WITH A NUMBER OF ERRORS THOSE DOCUMENTS SHOW THAT THAT FIFTH THIRD BANK ACTUALLY CAUGHT THE ATTENTION BY THOSE ERR