Lee County man sentenced to prison for $118K COVID loan fraud

Diop McKenzie, a 30-year-old man from Cape Coral, was sentenced to 45 months in federal prison for bank fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft after pleading guilty to charges in June. 

The court also ordered McKenzie to pay $117,832 of restitution to the Small Business Administration. The dollar amount was determined by the proceeds of the bank and wire fraud, according to a statement from the U.S.. Attorney's Office of the Middle District of Florida.

In May 2020, McKenzie, authorities contended, submitted a fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program application for a PPP loan totaling $20,832 through the SBA using the name of another person.