New Orleans woman charged for $1.3 million COVID fraud and tax evasion

Date: June 3, 2026

Contact: [email protected]

New Orleans, LA – U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced a two-count bill of information, charging Amanda Clayborne-Williams (“Clayborne-Williams”) with wire fraud and tax evasion. 

Count One charged Clayborne-Williams with wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343. Count Two charged Clayborne-Williams with tax evasion, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 7201.

According to the bill of information, between April 2020 and January 2021, Clayborne-Williams submitted twelve false and misleading applications for loans through the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) program, seeking approximately $1.3 million. It is alleged that, as a result of these applications, Clayborne-Williams received approximately $447,305.98 through fraud. Clayborne-Williams then used the PPP and EIDL funds for personal and unauthorized expenses, including for a mortgage payment on her personal residence. In addition, Clayborne-Williams attempted to evade paying income tax by filing a false form with the IRS in November of 2022, which substantially understated her monthly income and assets.

If convicted of Count One, Clayborne-Williams faces up to twenty (20) years of imprisonment. If convicted of Count Two, Clayborne-Williams faces up to five (5) years of imprisonment. Each count also carries a term of supervised release for up to three (3) years and a fine of up to $250,000. A mandatory $100 special assessment fee for each count is also applicable.

U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Internal Revenue Service on this investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Maria M. Carboni of the Public Integrity Unit is in charge of the prosecution.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

IRS-CI is the law enforcement arm of the IRS, responsible for conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, public corruption, healthcare fraud, identity theft and more. It is the only federal law enforcement agency with investigative jurisdiction over violations of the Internal Revenue Code. IRS-CI has 18 field offices located across the U.S. and maintains an international presence through attaché posts abroad.