Monroe Man Sentenced for Using PPP Money To Live the High Life

A Monroe man is headed to prison for ten years for misusing federal pandemic money. 57-year-old Michael Ansezell Tolliver was facing charges in federal court for scamming the government out of more than $1 million dollars in COVID relief funds.

Tolliver was sentenced to 120 months in prison for money laundering "in connection with a fraudulent scheme to obtain more than $1.1 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program loans."

Tolliver was also ordered to pay back more than a million dollars in restitution.

“The significant sentence handed down today demonstrates that those who steal from COVID-19 relief programs for personal gain will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown commented:

“We remain committed to rooting out bad actors who took advantage of federal programs meant to help those small businesses truly in need. This defendant stole over $1 million through fraudulent means and used those funds to support his own personal lifestyle."

What Are Some of the Items Seized by the Feds?

2020 Cadillac CT5 sedan

2021 GMC Sierra 1500 truck

Two Tissot watches

Two Tag Heuer watches

Three Honda all-terrain vehicles

$128,500 from bank accounts

According to court documents, Tolliver submitted nine fraudulent loan applications on behalf of several companies Tolliver allegedly owned, including Tolliver Oil & Gas Corporation of Louisiana, Inc. and Tolliver Petroleum Corporation of Louisiana. Federal prosecutors say Tolliver falsified information in the loan applications and supporting documents, including falsely claiming that some of his businesses had over 100 employees. He also submitted falsified federal tax returns.

In total, Tolliver asked for more than $7.6 million in PPP and EIDL Program loans and was granted more than $1.1 million. Tolliver then laundered and misused the cash.

If you know someone who might have defrauded the feds out of PPP money, you are urged to contact the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866‑720‑5721 or click here to register a complaint.