YAKIMA, Wash. – A Kennewick man along with a South Carolina man have been sentenced for committing COVID-19 relief fraud.
Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that David Kurt Schneider was sentenced to a year in prison while Kelly Jo Driver will receive five years probation.
Leif Gerald Larsen, a co-defendant from Pasco, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and is set to be sentenced on July 30, 2025, in Yakima.
Schneider, Driver and Larsen submitted fraudulent funding applications under Larsen Firearms and other businesses owned by Schneider. Driver prepared fake payroll and tax forms, receiving 10% of the disbursed funds as her share, said a release by the U.S. Attorney Eastern District of Washington.
The group fraudulently obtained at least $292,000 through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programs. They also attempted to secure an additional $560,000, which was not approved.
“Pandemic relief programs were created to support workers, small businesses, and communities struggling through an unprecedented crisis – not to enrich fraudsters,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Rich Barker.
The Eastern District of Washington COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force, along with the FBI and SBA OIG, investigated the case, the release added.
