JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A former Jacksonville pastor pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and aiding and abetting wire fraud, according to a plea agreement filed in U.S. District Court.
Marcus Eichelberger admitted he helped submit false Small Business Administration forms to get Paycheck Protection Program loans and loan forgiveness for a fictitious catering business called “Talia McIntyre,” the agreement says.
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Prosecutors say Eichelberger prepared the applications and fake Schedule C tax documents, emailed them to a congregant and “walk[ed] her through the prompts to completion,” the filing says. He also used information from another congregant to obtain a fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan, the plea says. The documents were transmitted electronically to a lender with servers outside Florida.
The filings say the forgiveness applications sought $20,833 for a loan and $29,166 for another. Eichelberger is accused of receiving about $19,000 from the scheme and agreed to forfeit that amount.
The plea sets mandatory restitution at $49,999 and additional restitution tied to related conduct at $259,800, for a total restitution obligation of $309,799, to be paid jointly and severally with others named in the case.
Each count carries a maximum of 20 years in prison; together the counts carry a potential combined sentence of up to 40 years and fines that could reach $500,000 or more.
The plea agreement says the remaining counts in the indictment will be dismissed at sentencing and that the U.S. attorney’s office may recommend a reduction for acceptance of responsibility if Eichelberger meets the conditions laid out in the deal.