West Virginia Women Sentenced and Plead Guilty in COVID-19 PPP Loan Fraud Scheme

Charleston Defendant Sentenced for Aiding PPP Theft

McCayla Myers of Charleston received a sentence of one year of federal probation on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, according to WTAP. Myers also received an order to pay restitution in an undetermined amount for aiding and abetting the theft of government money. Court documents show that between April 22, 2021, and May 22, 2021, Myers supplied her personal details to another person to secure four separate Paycheck Protection Program loans valued at $20,833 each through fraudulent applications.

Records indicate that two of those applications falsely claimed the funds supported an automotive repair enterprise, while the remaining two applications asserted the money belonged to a delivery service business. Forgivable PPP loans were made available via the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to assist enterprises impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic by replacing normal income and covering essential operational costs. During her guilty plea, Myers acknowledged she lacked ownership or operation of any qualifying businesses and had no legitimate payroll expenses at the time. Court records state she diverted the loan proceeds into personal purchases, including clothing, firearms, and vacations.

Cabin Creek Defendant Pleads Guilty to Fraud Scheme

Elizabeth Wells, formerly of Cabin Creek, entered a guilty plea to theft of public money, property, or records in connection with the same relief program, as reported by WTAP. According to court filings, a PPP loan application submitted on Wells’ behalf on March 20, 2021, falsely claimed she operated a business under her own name with a gross annual income of $106,600. That application secured approval, resulting in a $20,833 deposit directly into Wells’ personal bank account.

Wells admitted in court that she possessed no legitimate basis to claim the relief funds and used the money for personal expenses prohibited by the program rules. Federal authorities scheduled Wells’ sentencing for Jan. 11, 2027. She faces a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine reaching $250,000, alongside $23,637.22 in owed restitution.