April Elick, a 43-year-old resident of Bluefield, West Virginia, has pleaded guilty to theft of government money related to COVID-19 relief funds. Elick admitted to obtaining $84,000 in loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the CARES Act and using them for personal expenses.
Court documents reveal that Elick secured two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling $14,520 in April 2021. These were purportedly for her home healthcare business. Additionally, she received a $61,000 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) in January 2022 and increased this loan by $8,700 in April 2022.
Elick acknowledged that she was aware the funds were intended for specific purposes outlined by the CARES Act programs but instead used them on personal expenses such as cash withdrawals amounting to approximately $30,560 and digital wallet transfers of around $16,350. She also spent about $8,290 on goods and services across West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina.
The CARES Act was designed to provide financial assistance through forgivable PPP loans to businesses affected by the pandemic. It also authorized SBA loans up to $2 million for small businesses facing significant financial disruption.
Elick’s sentencing is scheduled for September 8, 2025. She could face up to 10 years in prison along with three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Additionally, she owes restitution amounting to $97,802.59.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston praised the investigative efforts of several agencies including WorkForce West Virginia Integrity Section and NASA’s Office of Inspector General among others.
NASA OIG plays an active role in the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Fraud Task Force which oversees federal COVID-19 spending exceeding $5 trillion. The PRAC’s Pandemic Analytics Center of Excellence supported this case with advanced analytic technologies aimed at detecting fraud.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the proceedings while Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew J. Tessman and J. Parker Bazzle II prosecuted the case.
The public is encouraged to report any information on COVID-19-related fraud through the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline or their online complaint form.
Further details can be accessed via PACER using Case No. 1:25-cr-56 or on the U.S. Attorney’s Office website for Southern District of West Virginia.
