United States of America v. Lorenzo Gordon

St. Louis, MO criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with Pandemic Loan Fraud

Former Professional Basketball Player Sentenced for Pandemic Loan Fraud

Lorenzo Gordon, now 41, fraudulently applied for two loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and three from the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program in 2020. Both programs were intended to help businesses and their employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.



Gordon fraudulently applied for loans in the name of three companies: Logo Fitness LLC, Elite 50 Basketball Training LLC and Elite Health and Fitness Company LLC. Gordon received $107,074 in PPP loans and $165,700 in EIDL loans and advances. The restitution total includes fees and interest.



Gordon "took advantage of these programs for his personal gain despite suffering no such economic injury,” harming "those who truly needed those funds,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Klocke wrote in a sentencing memo.



Gordon pleaded guilty in September in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one felony count of theft of government money.



The Internal Revenue Service and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Klocke prosecuted the case.