The former Atlanta deputy city attorney and life advice podcaster has been jailed for seven years after fraudulently obtaining approximately $15 million in COVID relief loans.
Shelitha Robertson, 62, used the illegally obtained funds to buy luxuries including a 10-carat diamond ring, a Rolls Royce and a motorcycle.
The former police officer had obtained the money under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a federal stimulus program that was established during the pandemic.
Robertson submitted loan applications on behalf of four companies he claimed to own and control.
But the loan applications were filled with false figures that falsely inflated the number of employees and the average monthly payroll of each of the companies.
Shelitha Robertson, a former deputy city attorney for the city of Atlanta, was sentenced to seven years in prison for fraudulently obtaining approximately $15 million in COVID relief loans.
Robertson will be almost 70 years old when he leaves prison, leaving behind his influencer daughter Brii Renee, who has more than 600,000 followers on Instagram, as seen here.
Court documents show Robertson was responsible for providing payroll for 427 employees, when in fact there were none.
This meant that Robertson was able to fraudulently obtain huge PPP loans that otherwise would not have been the case.
Of course, the money was intended for legitimate businesses that needed it to survive the pandemic.
Robertson and his accomplice, Chandra Norton, had no qualms about abusing such a scheme and submitted false tax documents to support the inflated statements within each loan application.
Robertson used the loan funds to purchase luxury items, including a 10-carat diamond ring that would have been worth at least $150,000 along with luxury vehicles, including the Rolls.
The Justice Department also said it transferred funds to an accomplice, Chandra Norton, and other family members.
A jury convicted Robertson of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, and the judge sentenced her to seven years and three months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Robertson will be almost 70 years old when he leaves prison, leaving behind his influencer daughter Brii Renee, who has more than 600,000 followers on Instagram.
It’s a big fall from grace for Robertson, who was Atlanta’s deputy city attorney and had also been a city police officer.
The money was intended for legitimate businesses that needed it to survive the pandemic.
The two co-host a podcast together titled ‘Mommy and Me’ in which they talk about ‘overcoming life’s challenges,’ according to a preview from Apple Podcasts.
In an October podcast episode, Robertson was asked if he would prefer integrity to poverty.
‘I choose integrity and everything that comes with it. I do not choose to sell your soul to the devil. Because that would mean I’m willing to degrade myself for the love of what? From one dollar.
“The way my children see me and respect me means more to me than making a quick dollar to be something I’m not,” Robertson said, just weeks before she was jailed.
“I’m totally broke,” Robertson said in court before her sentencing.
‘My business is over. My (law) license is over. My goods are gone. The only thing I have left is my family and my faith in God.’
He said he was deeply sorry for the impact his conduct has had on his family, his wife and his community.
“I’m not that person who tries to take advantage of anyone or any situation,” he said. “I have recognized what I have done.”
Fragment of the criminal indictment against Shelitha Robertson showing the shell companies that were paid millions of dollars with government funds
U.S. District Judge Steven D. Grimberg said the loss of the $14 million in funds was staggering.
“It was his level of direction and confidence in being able to commit this level of fraud without being detected that instigated it in the first place,” Grimberg said in court.
Robertson appeared regularly on his daughter’s podcast, where he advised his followers to work hard and not be motivated by money.
As part of her expenses, the 62-year-old woman spent money on a Rolls Royce.
“Motivated by greed, Robertson deceptively obtained funds intended to provide emergency financial relief to struggling small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. ‘
“It was his level of direction and confidence in being able to commit this level of fraud without being detected that instigated it in the first place,” Grimberg said in court.
Robertson used the loan funds to purchase luxury items, including a 10-carat diamond ring.
“Motivated by greed, Robertson deceptively obtained funds intended to provide emergency financial relief to struggling small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. ‘
“Today, the defendant in this case was found responsible for fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars through the Paycheck Protection Program and using those stolen funds to enrich himself while small businesses struggled during the pandemic,” Kyle added. Myles, special agent in charge of the FDIC.
“The FDIC Office Inspector General remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to pursue and bring to justice those who took advantage of such pandemic relief programs and threatened the integrity of financial institutions.” of our nation.”