Georgia Attorney Defrauded the Federal Government to Buy a Rolls-Royce, $148k Diamond Ring, and More

This case highlights a serious breach of trust by a public servant, unfolding amidst the challenges of the pandemic. According to the Department Of Justice, Robertson’s actions represent a significant violation of the law and public trust.

The applications contained false information, including inflated numbers of employees and exaggerated average monthly payroll figures. This deceit enabled Robertson to secure much larger PPP loans than she was legitimately entitled to, as per the Department of Justice.

President Biden and his administration introduced the PPP in order to ensure small businesses survived the lock down.

However, Robertson applied for all four of her companies,  Atlanta Custom Motors, MO Griggs Contracting, Tritan, and The Renee Group, some of which weren’t even operating at the time.

This misrepresentation of business details was a deliberate attempt to manipulate the PPP loan system for personal gain.

These false documents were crucial in her plan to obtain the PPP loans unlawfully. Such actions not only misrepresented her businesses’ financial situations but also violated legal and ethical standards.

However, it was later revealed that at that time, she only had 13 employees on her payroll.

When Robertson was officially charged with fraud, the very first thing she did was blame Norton for everything.

However, prosecutor Bernita Malloy noted that this claim “defies logic and is absolutely ludicrous.”

On the other hand, they say, Norton is a computer whiz and a “master of deception.”

In fact, Robertson even threatening to kill Norton at one time, through Gillen argued she didn’t really mean it, saying,“There’s no history of violence or anger or danger by the defendant to anybody other than the statement she made when she was arrested.”

Her deal included cooperation with the federal government to take down Robertson, so it’s really no surprise that their friendship dissolved.

As reported by Newsweek, her purchases included luxury items such as a Rolls-Royce, a motorcycle, and a 10-carat diamond ring costing $148,000.

While this detail remains unconfirmed, it has added to the public interest and discussion surrounding the case, highlighting the extravagance of Robertson’s alleged spending.

She reportedly sent $400,000 to Norton and $50,000 to her daughter, who hasn’t been charged.

This legal process is crucial in determining the consequences of her actions and ensuring justice is served.

This case has struck a chord with the general public, who expect honesty and integrity from their public officials.

He went on to say, “We will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute anyone who fraudulently obtains these critical funds.”

Since entering a plea of not guilty in December 2022, Robertson had been free on bond. However, she has since been taken into custody to await her sentencing on April 11. Each count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years, while the charge of money laundering could result in a sentence of up to 10 years.

Shelitha Robertson plans to appeal the court’s decision as soon as possible.

And her lawyer explained that she did so “because it was the right thing to do, not because she got caught.”

Prosecutor Bernita Malloy said in her closing statement, “There’s no level to which (Robertson) wouldn’t stoop to justify her criminal conduct. She disguised what she did to avoid getting caught. She thought she could wash her hands of it all.”

It also highlights the need for more robust safeguards and monitoring to prevent such fraud in the future. The situation has raised questions about the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms in place for such programs.

Her actions and their consequences have a lasting impact, emphasizing the need for vigilance and integrity in the management and distribution of public funds.