The Trucker 060120

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DACULA, Ga. — Maurice Fayne, aka
“Arkansas Mo,” a reality TV personality
who appears in VH1’s “Love & Hip Hop:
Atlanta,” has been arrested on federal bank
fraud charges arising from a Paycheck
Protection Program (PPP) loan that he obtained
in the name of Flame Trucking.
Fayne, 37, of Dacula, Georgia, was
charged with bank fraud and made his
initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate
Judge Justin S. Anand on May 13.
“The defendant allegedly stole money
meant to assist hard-hit employees and
businesses during these difficult times,
and instead greedily used the money to
bankroll his lavish purchases of jewelry
and other personal items,” said Brian
Benczkowski, assistant attorney general
of the U.S. Justice Department’s Criminal
Division.
Benczkowski said the department is
“steadfast” in its efforts to prosecute fraud
against the Paycheck Protection Program,
which is part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief
and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
“The defendant allegedly took advantage
of the emergency lending provisions
of the Paycheck Protection Program that
were intended to assist employees and
small businesses battered by the coronavirus,”
said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay”
Pak of the Northern District of Georgia.
“We will investigate and charge anyone
who inappropriately diverts these critical
funds for their own personal gain.”
Chris Hacker, special agent in charge of
the FBI’s Atlanta field office, concurred.
“At a time when small businesses are
struggling for survival, we cannot tolerate
anyone driven by personal greed, who
misdirects federal emergency assistance
earmarked for keeping businesses afloat,”
Hacker said. “The FBI and our federal
partners remain vigilant during this Coronavirus
pandemic to make sure funds provided
by programs like PPP are used as
intended.”
According to the charges and other information
presented in court, Fayne is the
sole owner of a Georgia corporation called
Flame Trucking. On April 15, Fayne signed
and submitted to United Community Bank
(UCB) a PPP loan application in the name
of Flame Trucking, stating that the business
had 107 employees and an average
monthly payroll of $1,490,200. In seeking
a loan in the amount of $3,725,500, Fayne
certified that the loan proceeds would be
used to “retain workers and maintain payroll
or make mortgage interest payments,
lease payments and utility payments, as
specified under the Paycheck Protection
Program Rule.”
UCB ultimately funded a PPP loan for
$2,045,800. Within days, Fayne allegedly
used more than $1.5 million of the PPP
loan proceeds to purchase $85,000 in jewelry,
including a Rolex Presidential watch,
Nation June 1-14, 2020 • 3
Reality star, trucking-company owner
accused of misusing funds from PPP loan
Courtesy: Getty Images
Reality TV personality Maurice Fayne, aka
“Arkansas Mo,” allegedly used funds from
a Paycheck Protection Program loan to buy
jewelry and pay child support.
a diamond bracelet and a 5.73-carat diamond
ring for himself, and to pay $40,000
for child support. Such payments are not
an authorized use of PPP funds under the
CARES Act.
On May 6, Fayne was interviewed by
federal agents and stated that he submitted
a PPP loan application on behalf of Flame
Trucking. Fayne claimed that he used all
the PPP loan proceeds to pay payroll and
other business expenses incurred by Flame
Trucking, and denied using any of the PPP
loan proceeds to pay his personal debts and
expenses.
On May 11, agents executed a search
at Fayne’s residence in Dacula and seized
approximately $80,000 in cash, including
$9,400 that Fayne had in his pockets, along
with the jewelry he allegedly purchased
with the PPP funds. Agents also discovered
a 2019 Rolls-Royce Wraith on the premises,
which still had a temporary dealer tag on it.
Agents executed seizure warrants for three
bank accounts that Fayne owned or controlled
and seized approximately $503,000
in alleged PPP funds.
The case is under investigation by the
FBI and the Small Business Association
Office of Inspector General. 8
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