Ex-DC official admits to taking thousands in fake business loans [Video]

WASHINGTON — A former D.C. official admitted to stealing more than $800,000 in pandemic relief loans in court Thursday. 

According to the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, 40-year-old Wendy Nicole Villatoro worked at the D.C. Homeland Security Commissioner when she submitted fraudulent applications to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Evidence shows that between March 31, 2020, and Aug. 4, 2021, Villatoro submitted eight PPP loan applications, all under the names of fake businesses. 

“This is a case of an individual exploiting pandemic relief programs for personal gain, diverting critical funds meant to help small businesses in need,” said SBA-OIG’s Eastern Region Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Braithwaite.

In total, Villatoro tried to steal between $2.6 million and $5.5 million and successfully secured over $844,000 in …