Great Lakes Wire

LANSING – Yulonda Eckel, 56, of Ann Arbor, has waived her preliminary examination and will stand trial in the 22nd Circuit Court in Washtenaw County for allegedly fraudulently obtaining two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling over $41,000. The announcement was made by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.

Eckel was arraigned in June on two counts of False Pretenses $20,000-$50,000, two counts of Using a Computer to Commit a Crime, and one count of Taxes – Making/Permitting a False Return. She is accused of applying for and receiving two PPP loans by claiming she was a sole proprietor with $108,121 in gross income from her business in 2020. However, an investigation revealed that Eckel did not operate a sole proprietorship.

The enforcement operation was conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of Inspector General.

“During the pandemic, Michigan saw millions of dollars fraudulently taken from programs aimed at keeping business afloat in our communities,” said Nessel at the time of Eckel’s arraignment. “I am thankful for the investigative efforts of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. My department will continue to protect taxpayer dollars by investigating and prosecuting those who take advantage of government aid.”

Eckel's next court appearance is scheduled for October 17, 2024.

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Please note: For all criminal proceedings, a criminal charge is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The Department does not provide booking photos.