Semiannual Report

of the Inspector General

 U.S. Small Business Administration

Fall 2001

 A Report to Congress

 April 1, 2001 – September 30, 2001

 Pursuant to Public Law 95-452

Foreword

Semiannual Report September 2001 

I am pleased to submit our Semiannual Report on the Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) activities

from April 1, 2001, to September 30, 2001.

Fiscal Year 2001 was proven a year of solid accomplishment by this Office. Looking at the standard

productivity measures for OIG activities, we see that the Office issued reports on 27 audits and 3

inspections. OIG investigations resulted in 50 indictments and 41 convictions for criminal violations.

The Office brought its collective experience to bear in reviewing 221 legislative, regulatory, policy,

and procedural proposals concerning SBA and Government-wide programs. Overall, OIG dollar

accomplishments from all activities totaled over $46 million. All of this was accomplished with an

appropriation of $11.9 million (after rescission) and an average staff level

of 106.

We continue to focus our efforts on several key areas identified in our strategic plan: financial

management, information systems and computer security, lender oversight, high-risk issues, and new

SBA initiatives. Particularly noteworthy during this 6-month period were OIG reports on SBA’s

computer security program, oversight of the preferred lender program, Operation Cleansweep III

(character verification checks for loan applicants), and management challenge discussion groups.

Discussions of these reports, including OIG recommended actions and SBA’s response, can be found

in the body of this semiannual report.

Since September 11, 2001, SBA OIG has joined with other OIGs and law enforcement agencies to

start addressing the horrific events of that day and the terrorist activity behind them. Our hearts and

sympathy go out to the victims and their families; the citizens of New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia,

and Washington, DC; and the small businesses across America who have been so profoundly affected

by these acts. We will continue to do all we can to protect the integrity of SBA’s programs, thereby

aiding the victims of these events.

I would like to express my deep appreciation for the ongoing support and interest of SBA’s new

Administrator and SBA’s senior staff. Without their willingness to assist us and take action on our

recommendations, we would not be effective. Overall, we are pleased to report that SBA is making

progress on many of the key issues facing the Agency. We look forward to working in partnership

with Administrator Barreto and the entire SBA team in continuing to address these challenges so that

we can make a positive difference in the way Agency programs are being delivered to our customers,

the small business men and women of America.

Phyllis K. Fong

Inspector General

Table of Contents

Semiannual Report September 2001 i

 Chapter Page

SBA Overview 1

Significant Activities and Management Challenges 4

OIG Profile 9

OIG Activities 11

Statistical Highlights 29

Inspector General Act Statutory Reporting Requirements 33

Table of Appendices 34

SBA Overview

Semiannual Report September 2001 1

Agency Overview. The Small Business Administration (SBA) was established in 1953 to assist small

businesses from startup through the many stages of growth. SBA’s two major goals are to help small

businesses succeed and help Americans recover from disasters. SBA offers many services to entrepreneurs,

including assistance with developing a business plan, obtaining financing, marketing products and services,

and addressing management issues. SBA programs are delivered by a network of field offices in every state,

the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and Puerto Rico. SBA had an FY

2001 appropriation of $899.5 million and has 4,190 employees, including Disaster Assistance and Office of

Inspector General (OIG).

The Office of Capital Access has several loan and other programs that assist small businesses. The Section

7(a) program is the largest business loan program. Currently, the Agency is authorized to guarantee up to

$1 million of a small business loan on a loan up to $2 million. The maximum guarantees are 75 percent for

loans over $150,000, and 85 percent for loans of $150,000 or less except for Export Working Capital

Administrator

Deputy Administrator

Chief of Staff

Counselor to

Administrator

Chief Operating

Officer

Office of the National

Ombudsman

Office of Inspector General Office of Advocacy

Associate Deputy

Administrator for

Capital Access

Associate Deputy

Administrator for

Entrepreneurial

Development

Associate Deputy

Administrator for

Management &

Administration

Associate Deputy

Administrator for

Government Contracting &

Business Development

Investment Division

Office of Financial Assistance

Office of Surety Guarantees

Office of International Trade

Office of Lender Oversight

Office of Business and Community

Initiatives

Office of Small Business Development

Centers

Office of Women’s Business Ownership

Office of Native American Affairs

Office of Chief Information Officer

Office of Human Resources

Office of Administration

Office of Government Contracting

Office of HUBZone Empowerment

Contracting

Office of Business Development

Office of Policy Planning & Liaison

Office of Congressional & Legislative

Affairs

Office of Hearings and Appeals

Office of Disaster Assistance

Office of General Counsel

Office of Veterans Business

Development

Office of Field Operations

Regional Administrators

Office of Equal Employment

Opportunity & Civil Rights Compliance

Office of Communications

& Public Liaison

Office of the Chief

Financial Officer
SBA Overview

2 Semiannual Report September 2001

program (EWCP) loans, which have a 90 percent guarantee. Under Section 7(a) of the Small Business Act

(The Act), SBA is authorized to offer a variety of specialized products and processes including the Certified

and Preferred Lender (CLP and PLP), Low Documentation (LowDoc), SBAExpress, Community Express,

Pre-Qualification, CAPLines, Defense Loan and Technical Assistance (DELTA), Community Adjustment

and Investment Loan, EWCP, International Trade Loan, Energy and Conservation Loan, and Pollution

Control Loan programs. In addition, Section 7(m) of the Act, authorizes SBA to provided loans and grants

to not-for-profit organizations that use these funds to provide small loans (currently up to $35,000) and

technical assistance to small businesses. The Small Business Investment Act also authorizes SBA to

guaranty debentures used to fund long term fixed asset purchases for developing small businesses. The

Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program provides supplemental funding to licensed SBICs

who make equity-type investments in small business. All of the specialized business loan programs are

intended to provide entrepreneurs with the financing vehicles needed to help them start or grow their small

business. In FY 2000, the Office of Lender Oversight (OLO) was established to effectively coordinate

oversight of the Agency’s lending programs. In addition to financial assistance programs, the Office of

Capital Access (OCA) also oversees the Surety Guarantee (SG) program, and an International Trade

program.

The Office of Entrepreneurial Development administers programs that offer information, counseling, and

management assistance through SBA’s many resource partners and district offices. Resource partners

include Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), Small Business Development Centers (SBDC),

Business Information Centers (BIC), Tribal Business Information Centers (TBIC), One Stop Capital Shops

(OSCS), and Women’s Business Centers (WBC). These resource partners provide guidance and expertise to

new entrepreneurs.

The Office of Government Contracting and Business Development administers programs that assist

small businesses with Federal procurement opportunities. The Office of Business Development (BD)

provides technical and procurement assistance to eligible businesses through two principal programs:

(1) BD, which encompasses the Section 8(a) program and the Mentor-Protégé program; and (2)

Management and Technical Assistance. BD also includes the Office of Small Disadvantaged Business

Certification and Eligibility (SDBC&E), which certifies companies applying as small disadvantaged

businesses. The Office of Policy, Planning, and Liaison (OPPL) provides policy support for all of the

Agency’s procurement assistance programs. OPPL also includes the Office of Technology, which expands

the competitiveness of small high technology research and development businesses in the Federal

marketplace through two programs: Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology

Transfer. OPPL also includes the Office of Size Standards, which reviews and establishes industry size

standards. The HUBZone Empowerment Contracting (HUBZone) program is designed to stimulate

economic development and create jobs in urban and rural communities by providing contracting preferences

to small businesses located in historically underutilized business zones. The Office of Government

Contracting (GC) works with Federal agencies to establish and achieve goals for small business participation

in Federal contracting. Through its field structure, GC reviews proposed procurements and identifies

opportunities for all categories of small businesses.

The Office of Disaster Assistance offers assistance to victims of hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, wildfires,

tornadoes, and other physical disasters. SBA's disaster loans are the primary form of Federal assistance for

non-farm, private sector disaster losses. SBA is authorized by the Small Business Act to make three types of

disaster loans: (1) physical disaster loans, which provide a primary source of funding for permanent

rebuilding and replacement of uninsured disaster damages to homeowners, renters, non-farm businesses of

all sizes, and nonprofit organizations; (2) economic injury disaster loans, which provide businesses with
SBA Overview

Semiannual Report September 2001 3

necessary working capital until normal operations resume after a physical disaster; and (3) pre-disaster

mitigation loans. The disaster program is SBA's largest direct loan program, and the only SBA program for

entities other than small businesses. SBA delivers disaster loans through four specialized Disaster Area

Offices located in Niagara Falls, NY; Atlanta, GA; Ft. Worth, TX; and Sacramento, CA.
Significant Activities and Management Challenges

4 Semiannual Report September 2001

 OIG’s Strategic Plan articulates the office’s vision to improve SBA’s

programs by identifying key issues facing the Agency, ensuring that corrective

actions are taken, and promoting a high level of integrity. OIG continues to

focus on serving the needs of our customers and stakeholders and on

safeguarding SBA resources from waste, fraud, and abuse. We strive to provide

a work environment in OIG that is conducive to excellent performance by our

employees. The three goals in the Strategic Plan are to: (1) improve the

economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of SBA programs; (2) prevent and detect

fraud and abuse, and foster integrity in SBA programs and operations; and

(3) ensure the economical, efficient, and effective operation of OIG. These

goals provide the broad framework of our mission from which we further

concentrate our work in the following five cross-cutting areas of strategic focus:

(1) financial management systems; (2) information systems and computer

security; (3) lender oversight; (4) other selected high-risk issues; and (5) new

Agency initiatives. A summary of our Strategic Plan is provided on the inside

cover of this report.

The next section of this chapter details significant OIG accomplishments

in the five areas of strategic focus.

Financial Management Systems

FY 2000 SBA Management Letter

OIG issued the FY 2000 SBA Management Letter outlining five

conditions identified during the audit of SBA’s FY 2000 financial statements,

which resulted in an unqualified opinion. The conditions were not required to

be included in the auditors’ final report since they were nonmaterial

weaknesses. The conditions identified related to: (1) subsidy models for

budget estimates and financial statement re-estimates; (2) personal property and

equipment; (3) expired appropriations; (4) foreclosed property records and

valuation; and (5) loan accounting records and servicing. The Chief Financial

Officer (CFO) generally agreed with the findings and recommendations and

described corrective actions taken and planned to address the five conditions.

Information Systems and Computer Security

SBA’s Computer Security Program

OIG issued an advisory report on SBA’s computer security program as

mandated by the Government Information Security Reform Act (GISRA) for

2001. GISRA requires an independent evaluation of the Agency’s computer

security programs. OIG concluded that while SBA generally maintains a

OIG Strategic Plan

Five conditions

identified during the

audit of SBA’s FY 2000

financial statements.
Significant Activities and Management Challenges

Semiannual Report September 2001 5

satisfactory information security program for its high priority financial

management and general support systems, improvements were needed. SBA

has not conducted computer security testing, has no formal computer security

program monitoring to ensure that corrective actions are implemented, and does

not have adequate disaster recovery and contingency planning. These

vulnerabilities will require continued management emphasis in information

security with the appropriate underlying resources to ensure that the security

and continuity of SBA systems will be improved. The report included

recommendations to the Chief Information Officer (CIO) to establish a security

system testing program, upgrade computer security monitoring capabilities, and

fully implement disaster recovery and contingency planning along with several

other recommendations to strengthen SBA’s administration of the computer

security program. The CIO agreed with the recommendations in the report.

UNIX Operating Systems

OIG audited 13 UNIX servers that support SBA high-priority computer

systems. OIG concluded that the security settings and operational controls over

the UNIX operating systems were not adequate to prevent or detect

unauthorized access to programs and data, and did not comply with Federal and

Agency information security requirements. Specifically: (1) access controls

were not adequate to protect or detect unauthorized access to the UNIX

operating systems; (2) required security documentation had not been properly

prepared; (3) security settings and UNIX patch levels had not been maintained;

and (4) system logs had not been consistently reviewed. As a result, there was

an increased risk of unauthorized modification, loss, and disclosure of data and

programs. The report includes 12 recommendations to improve the security of

SBA’s UNIX operating systems. The CIO generally agreed with the findings

and recommendations in the report.

Lender Oversight

Small Business Lending Company Examination Reports

OIG issued an audit report on SBA’s follow-up action taken in response

to the Small Business Lending Company (SBLC) examination reports. The

audit showed that SBA took several actions to improve oversight of the SBLC

examination process, but additional actions are needed to fully ensure that

SBLCs take timely corrective actions in response to examination findings and

recommendations. OIG recommended that SBA: (1) develop and implement

formal SBLC examination follow-up procedures; and (2) develop and

promulgate internal control standards for the SBLC program similar to those

required for lenders subject to examination by financial institution regulators.

OCA agreed with both recommendations and plans to implement a systematic

follow-up process and develop internal control standards for SBLCs.

UNIX operating systems

do not have adequate

operational controls to

prevent or detect

unauthorized access.
Significant Activities and Management Challenges

6 Semiannual Report September 2001

Preferred Lender Program Oversight Process

OIG issued an audit report of the PLP oversight process. The audit, part

of OIG’s plan to evaluate SBA’s lender oversight effort, was conducted to

determine if SBA’s oversight of the PLP program is in accordance with SBA

policies and procedures.

OIG determined that program oversight needs improvement to ensure that

lenders are properly selected for participation and to identify those not in

compliance with SBA guidelines. Specifically, the audit disclosed that: (1) not

all lenders were selected for review, and their past due, delinquent, and

liquidation status loans were not always evaluated; (2) annual reviews did not

assess financial and lender based risk factors; (3) lender evaluation worksheets

allowed lenders who did not meet performance benchmarks to obtain passing

scores and SBA district offices to impact scores; (4) annual reviews were not

coordinated with the PLP renewal process; and (5) there was no documentation

that non-bank lender safety and soundness examination results were considered

during the renewal process.

OCA agreed with the recommendations concerning selecting lenders for

review, scoring annual reviews, coordinating annual PLP reviews and lender

renewal dates, and documenting safety and soundness examination results in the

annual renewal process. They partially agreed with the recommendations

concerning emphasizing performance benchmarks in the annual review scoring

process and informing SBA district offices of safety and soundness examination

results for non-bank lenders. They disagreed with recommendations

concerning selecting loans for review and scoring lender evaluation worksheets.

Other Selected High-Risk Issues

Top 10 Management Challenges

In response to a congressional request, on December 1, 2000, OIG

submitted a list and assessment of the 10 most serious management challenges

facing SBA in FY 2001. The first four focus on Agency-wide issues that are

critical to SBA’s goal of modernizing the Agency, two concern lender

oversight, three involve Section 8(a)BD program issues, and the last challenge

addresses fraud deterrence.

In August, OIG provided an updated assessment of SBA progress on the

challenges. The Agency appears to be making progress on 2 of the 10

challenges. These include managing for results and improving information

system controls. Progress is more limited on four of the challenges–

modernizing information systems, implementing human capital management

Audit discloses that

lender oversight needs

improvement to ensure

that lenders are selected

properly and are in

compliance with SBA

guidelines.

OIG assesses the 10 most

serious management

challenges facing SBA.
Significant Activities and Management Challenges

Semiannual Report September 2001 7

strategies, applying business loan guarantee purchase controls, and improving

lender oversight. Further progress on preventing loan agent fraud and requiring

criminal history checks of all borrowers may entail the passage of new

legislative authority. No substantive progress has been demonstrated on the

Section 8(a)BD program challenges—access to business development and

contracts, clearer standards for economic disadvantage, and pass-through

procurement activity. OIG is developing the list of FY 2002 challenges and

plans to issue it in December 2001.

OIG Employees Support National Law Enforcement Effort

OIG has supported our national law enforcement response to the horrific

terrorist acts in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania on

September 11, 2001. The support has included:

• Assigning two special agents to the investigative task force in New

York and one special agent to assist the Federal Aviation

Administration as a sky marshal;

• Coordinating with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) offices as to

available information on known or suspected terrorists and

accomplices; and

• Assisting SBA Disaster Assistance program officials with fraud

deterrence activities. OIG anticipates that additional audit and

investigations resources will need to be devoted to oversight of the

Disaster Assistance program as physical and economic injury disaster

loan volume increases.

Operation Cleansweep III Report Issued

In April 2001, OIG published a report, entitled “Applicant Character

Verification in SBA’s Business Loan Program,” summarizing the findings of

Operation Cleansweep III. As indicated in its last semiannual report, this

proactive investigation disclosed that 9.1 percent of Section 7(a) loans had

borrowers who failed to fully disclose their criminal records. Borrowers who

failed to disclose their criminal histories were 1.3 times as likely to become

non-performing and result in purchase of the guaranty by SBA than those that

disclosed their records or had no criminal histories. To begin addressing this

problem and reduce losses to the Government, OIG is developing options to

expand the program for verifying criminal history checks of business loan

applicants.

OIG participates in the law

enforcement response to

the September 11, 2001,

events.
Significant Activities and Management Challenges

8 Semiannual Report September 2001

Agency Initiatives

SBA Management Challenge Discussion Groups

OIG issued an inspection advisory memorandum entitled “Results of

SBA Management Challenge Discussion Groups.” OIG held discussions in

early FY 2001 with selected groups of senior officials from SBA Headquarters,

regional, and district offices on potential management challenges facing the

Agency and a new Administrator. While we found a strong sense of

commitment to SBA's mission, we also found that the rapid changes the Agency

has experienced have resulted in a number of concerns among some senior

officials. The issues included the scope of the Agency's mission as it relates to

changes in SBA's market, the regional field structure, centralization of functions

and authority, workforce and program issues, and internal communication. The

need for greater efforts to improve senior level communications was a constant

in the meetings. In this memorandum OIG presents the issues raised and

suggests some actions that might be taken to help address them. SBA has

implemented some of the suggestions.

OIG holds group

discussions with Agency

senior officials to

determine potential

management challenges.
OIG Profile

Semiannual Report September 2001 9

SBA/OIG was established by the Inspector General (IG) Act of 1978.

OIG provides nationwide coverage of SBA’s programs and activities. In

addition to the Immediate Office of the IG, OIG’s five divisions work

together to perform the missions mandated by Congress.

• Auditing Division provides comprehensive audit coverage of SBA’s

operations through program performance reviews, internal control

assessments, and financial and mandated audits to promote the

economical, efficient, and effective operation of SBA programs.

Audits give SBA managers an objective and systematic assessment of

how well their offices are carrying out their programs and operations. 

Financial audits examine the presentation of financial information,

internal controls, and adherence to financial requirements. Performance

audits assess operations in terms of economical and effective use of

resources.

• Investigations Division manages a nationwide program to prevent and

detect illegal and/or improper activities involving SBA programs,

operations, and personnel. The criminal-investigative staff carries out a

full range of traditional law enforcement functions, including (in the last

2 years) executing 26 arrest warrants, 4 search warrants, and 3 electronic

monitorings. The security operations staff ensures that all Agency

employees have the appropriate background investigations and security

clearances for their duties. The name check program provides SBA

officials with character-eligibility information on loan applicants and

other potential program participants.

• Inspection and Evaluation Division conducts assessments of the

effectiveness of SBA programs and activities, analyses of critical

program issues, best practices studies, and research on matters

concerning SBA performance.

• Counsel Division is an in-house legal staff that provides legal advice

and assistance to all OIG components, represents OIG in litigation

arising out of or affecting OIG operations, processes Freedom of

Information and Privacy Act requests, and manages OIG legislative and

regulatory review functions.

• Management and Policy Division provides planning, information

systems, budgetary, administrative, personnel, and communications

services.

There are five divisions

of SBA/OIG.
OIG Profile

10 Semiannual Report September 2001

OIG is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and has field audit and

investigation offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Kansas

City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, New York, San Francisco, San Juan,

Seattle, and Syracuse.

As of September 30, 2001, our on-board strength was 106. The OIG

FY 2001 appropriation was $11.9 million (less a .22% rescission of

$26,297), and $500,000 transfer for disaster assistance oversight activities.

SBA/OIG has offices

nationwide.

SBA/OIG resources.

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

INSPECTION AND

EVALUATION DIVISION

INVESTIGATIONS

DIVISION

NEW YORK

SYRACUSE

ATLANTA

DALLAS

LOS ANGELES

SAN DENVER

 KANSAS CITY

INSPECTOR GENERAL

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

DEPUTY

INSPECTOR GENERAL

CREDIT PROGRAMS

GROUP

COUNSEL DIVISION

WASH., DC CHICAGO

SEATTLE

HOUSTON

PHILADELPHIA FRANCISCO

AUDITING DIVISION

 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

 PROGRAMS GROUP

WASH., DC WASH., DC

ATLANTA

DALLAS

LOS ANGELES

MANAGEMENT AND

POLICY DIVISION

 SAN JUAN
OIG Activities

Semiannual Report September 2001 11

This chapter includes details and results of audits, investigations, and

inspections, as well as other significant OIG activities that do not fall under

the strategic plan’s five focus points. The material in this chapter is

organized by major SBA program area. Many of the audits and inspections

and other materials discussed in this section can be found at

http://www.sba.gov/IG/igreadingroom.html.

Business Loan Programs

Over the years, OIG investigations of fraud in SBA’s loan programs

have identified trends or types of fraud. Three major trends in recent years

are: (1) fraud involving borrowers who do not disclose criminal histories;

(2) fraud involving loan agents; and (3) fraud involving false tax returns.

The first two trends are reflected in SBA’s Management Challenge 10.

Fraud Involving Borrowers Who Do Not Disclose Criminal Histories

During this period, OIG investigations of criminal-record fraud in

connection with SBA’s business loan programs yielded one indictment,

three convictions, and $403,750 in court-ordered restitution to SBA and

other victims. Summaries of some criminal history fraud investigations

involving SBA loan programs are listed below.

• The January 2001 indictments of four residents of the Cleveland, Ohio,

area have been adjudicated. A jury found the first resident guilty of both

counts (making false statements to SBA and conspiracy to defraud the

Government) on which she had been indicted. The second resident was

sentenced to 4 months home confinement, 3 years probation, and

$46,500 restitution to SBA; he previously pled guilty to one count of

making a material false statement. The third resident was sentenced to

4 months home confinement, 1 year probation, and $107,250 restitution

to SBA; he previously pled guilty to one count of making false

statements to SBA. The one count of making false statements to SBA

on which the fourth resident had been indicted was dismissed. All

charges in the indictment (except the one to which the second resident

pled guilty; see below) relate to an alleged scheme, devised by the first

resident (a licensed real estate agent and business broker) to facilitate a

$326,000 SBA-guaranteed loan to the second resident for his purchase

of a forklift sales and repair business in Parma, Ohio, from the third and

fourth residents. The scheme to fraudulently provide the second resident

with the funds for his required capital injection prior to the loan closing

enabled all the defendants to benefit from the completion of the

transaction. It essentially provided the second resident with 100 percent

financing and resulted in inflation of the contract sales price, thereby

OIG discovers three types

of fraud in SBA’s loan

programs.
OIG Activities

12 Semiannual Report September 2001

exposing SBA and the participating lender to additional loss and

reduced recovery potential. The benefit to the third and fourth residents

was the sale of their business; the benefit to the first resident was her

commission. This scheme to defraud SBA and the participating lender

was also facilitated by each of the subjects’ concealment of the transfer

of funds from the third and fourth residents to the second resident, and

their supporting false statements to the participating lender and SBA.

The count to which the second resident pled guilty charged him with

certifying in the loan application he submitted to SBA and the

participating lender that he had no criminal history. The investigation

revealed that he had been arrested and charged with various crimes;

these charges resulted in four convictions prior to his loan application,

including one felony conviction for first-degree burglary. OIG initiated

this investigation based on a referral from SBA’s Cleveland District

Office.

• The owner of a defunct Bronx, New York, photo studio was sentenced

to 2 years in prison, 3 years on supervised release, and $250,000 in

restitution to SBA. A trial jury previously found him guilty of one count

of making material false statements to obtain an SBA-guaranteed loan.

The businessman had falsely stated in an application for a $260,000

SBA-guaranteed loan that he was a U.S. citizen and that he did not have

any prior criminal convictions. In fact, he was a resident alien facing

deportation proceedings, had been convicted of alien smuggling, and

was a Federal fugitive wanted by the U.S. Marshals Service on a parole

warrant issued in 1989. SBA eventually charged off the $249,166

outstanding loan balance. This investigation was initiated based on

information provided by the U.S. Marshals Service.

• The president of a pet store in Stow, Ohio, was indicted on one count of

bank fraud and one count of making false statements to SBA in

connection with his $100,000 LowDoc loan. During the application

process, the president allegedly concealed approximately $200,000 in

debt and information regarding his criminal history. Prior to applying

for the SBA loan, the president had been arrested on multiple offenses

and charged with various crimes. One of these charges resulted in a

felony conviction for carrying a concealed weapon. OIG initiated this

investigation based on a referral from SBA’s Cleveland District Office.

Fraud Involving Loan Agents

Loan agents provide referral and loan application services to

prospective borrowers or lenders for a fee. Some agents, particularly loan

packagers, have been involved in a variety of fraudulent loan schemes that

have resulted in financial losses to SBA and, ultimately, the taxpayers.
OIG Activities

Semiannual Report September 2001 13

During this reporting period, OIG investigations of this type of fraud

resulted in two indictments, two convictions, and almost $388,300 in

restitution.

The following cases illustrate OIG investigations of fraud involving

business loan agents.

• The number of individuals indicted in an investigation centered on a

Dallas, Texas, loan packager has risen to 19. Among the latest results,

the packager pled guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of

making material false statements. The guilty pleas involved loan

packages she prepared for two gas stations. The loans were for

$200,000 and $355,000. Specifically, she conspired with others to

provide false documents including Federal tax returns, tax return

verifications, and capital injections. Overall, she prepared 39 SBA loan

packages with a total loan value of over $14.5 million. These loan

packages contained 164 fraudulent tax returns, 49 fraudulent tax return

verifications, false oil company and commercial leases, over

$1.75 million in bogus capital injections, and false inventory purchases.

She also paid two Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employees to prepare

the false tax return verifications to match the false tax returns she

prepared. As part of her plea agreement, she agreed to cooperate fully in

the prosecution of all additional subjects associated with the

$14.5 million in SBA-guaranteed loans.

Also, the owner of an auto service center in Irving, Texas, was found

guilty on one count of conspiracy and five counts of making material

false statements to induce a non-bank participating lender and SBA to

fund a $156,000 SBA-guaranteed loan. The owner and two of her

associates were previously indicted for allegedly submitting 3 years of

falsified tax returns and IRS tax return verifications, along with

fraudulent documentation of their required capital injections and

equipment purchases. Proceeds of the loan were used for personal

expenditures not related to the business.

Finally, two men associated with a Dallas, Texas, restaurant were

indicted on one count of conspiracy and nine counts of making material

false statements to induce a non-bank lender and SBA to fund a

$258,000 SBA-guaranteed loan. The restaurant’s proprietor and its

seller allegedly submitted six falsified copies of tax returns, three

fraudulent tax return verifications, and numerous other fraudulent

documents in support of the loan application and a $62,500 capital

injection into the business.

• The principal owner of an Inglewood, California, loan brokerage firm

was sentenced to 1 month in jail, 5 months home detention, 5 years

Nineteen individuals

indicted in an investigation

of a Texas loan packager.
OIG Activities

14 Semiannual Report September 2001

probation, and $388,300 restitution to SBA. He previously pled guilty

to four counts of making false statements to a federally-insured financial

institution and one count of subscribing to a false statement on a tax

return. In the plea agreement, he admitted his role in the submission of

four SBA-guaranteed loan applications containing altered tax returns.

The loans totaled $2.46 million, and losses to SBA and the participating

lender bank exceeded $2.3 million. He also admitted failing to report

the company’s gross receipts for 1991 and 1992, resulting in a total tax

loss of approximately $520,000. The company may have brokered as

many as 160 SBA-guaranteed loans having an aggregate value of some

$60 million. OIG’s examination of loan files disclosed evidence of such

fraudulent activities as false personal financial statements, false tax

returns, and manipulation of documents to falsely show that the

borrowers made substantial initial cash injections. The investigation to

date has resulted in the convictions of 15 borrowers for whom the

company brokered loans; 2 loan brokers, including the above-described

defendant; 1 tax preparer; and 1 bank official.

Fraud Involving False Tax Returns

Over the last 11 years, OIG has received more than 500 allegations

that false tax returns were submitted in support of SBA applications (nearly

99 percent for business or disaster loans). These fraud referrals involved

loan applications totaling approximately $130 million that were submitted to

58 SBA offices. To date, 169 individuals have been indicted on criminal

charges, 149 have been adjudicated guilty, 7 indictments were dismissed,

1 defendant was acquitted, and 12 others have not yet gone to trial. Because

of the implicit credibility of Federal tax returns, SBA has traditionally relied

heavily on information they contain in making its credit-related decisions, so

falsification of “copies” of returns can have a significant impact on SBA’s

consideration of those applications. During the last 6 months, investigations

of this type of fraud generated court-ordered restitution of $197,027.

The following cases illustrate OIG’s work on fraud involving false

tax returns.

• The president of a defunct dry cleaning business in Kansas City,

Missouri, was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison and 5 years on

probation and to pay $197,027 in restitution, more than 57 percent of

which was in connection with his SBA-guaranteed loan. He previously

pled guilty to making false statements to a federally-insured bank in

order to receive a $98,235 SBA-guaranteed loan in 1998, on which he

immediately defaulted. In the loan application package, he provided a

false tax return for the business and falsely claimed that he had no

criminal history. A suspicious activity report filed by the bank resulted

in an investigation that determined that he also made false statements,

OIG’s investigation of

fraud involving tax returns

has generated courtordered restitution of

$197,027 in the past 6

months.
OIG Activities

Semiannual Report September 2001 15

used false Social Security numbers, and provided false tax returns to

obtain five personal loans. He defaulted on all six of these loans.

• The president of a Glen Burnie, Maryland, real estate company was

sentenced to serve 1 year and 1 day incarceration and 3 years on

supervised release, and to pay a $250 special assessment. The judge did

not impose a fine or order restitution because the defendant has an

approximately $4 million outstanding debt to the IRS. He previously

was found guilty of three counts of making material false statements and

two counts of mail fraud in connection with a $260,000 SBA-guaranteed

loan. OIG’s investigation established that on his SBA loan application

and related documents, he listed the name, date of birth, and Social

Security number (SSN) of his son, in lieu of his own. The defendant

also submitted altered “copies” of income tax returns wherein he

replaced his name and SSN with his son’s. He used the fraudulent

documents to obtain the loan from a non-bank participating lender to

buy two parcels of commercial real estate. He also failed to disclose

that he owed approximately $3 million to IRS and others at the time he

applied for the loan.

Other Types of Fraud

The following cases illustrate OIG investigations involving fraud to

obtain business loans.

• Three Arizona men were indicted in connection with a $1 million SBAguaranteed loan to buy two fast-food restaurants. The president and

secretary-treasurer of the borrowing company were each charged with

aiding and abetting on five counts of mail fraud, one count of wire fraud,

and four counts of making a false statement. The third man was charged

with aiding and abetting on four counts of mail fraud, one count of wire

fraud, and three counts of making a false statement. The third man

allegedly assisted in creating a fraudulent promissory note for a bogus

$400,000 loan from him to the two borrowers to give the impression that

the borrowers had greater debts that would require a larger loan. Prior

to the loan closing, additional fraudulent documentation was created to

show that the note had been paid down to approximately $206,000 and

that the remaining debt could be paid with $150,000 in SBA-guaranteed

loan proceeds and approximately $56,000 in personal funds. The third

man never received the $56,000. However, at the loan closing, a

$150,000 check was issued from the SBA-guaranteed loan proceeds as

his payoff of the fraudulent note. He in turn endorsed that check to one

of the men and never received any benefit for his role in the fraudulent

note. The men allegedly used the $150,000 for their personal and

business benefit. This investigation was based on a referral from OIG’s

Auditing Division.
OIG Activities

16 Semiannual Report September 2001

• The owner of a now-defunct St. Croix, Virgin Islands, construction

company was sentenced to 18 months incarceration, 3 years supervised

release, and $420,000 restitution to SBA. He previously pled guilty to

one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with

an SBA-guaranteed loan. In 1998, he and his now-deceased co-owner

had been indicted on charges of conspiracy, bank fraud, making material

false statements, and money laundering. The indictment charged that in

applying for an SBA-guaranteed loan the two men had submitted a

fraudulent business proposal and other documents listing $420,000

worth of machinery to be purchased with the loan funds. The actual cost

of the machinery was only $120,000. The co-owners spent most of the

loan funds on unauthorized expenses. The company failed, causing a

loss of more than $400,000 on the loan. SBA’s Puerto Rico and

Virgin Islands District Office referred this for investigation.

• A Virginia Beach, Virginia, chiropractor pled guilty to a one-count

information charging him with making a false statement under oath in

bankruptcy. He had submitted false equipment invoices and a false

building lease in support of his application for a 1996 SBA-guaranteed

loan of $337,000 to purchase equipment. Upon receiving the two-payee

disbursement checks for the loan, he forged the endorsement of the

equipment company and deposited the checks into his personal account.

He subsequently defaulted on the $136,617 balance of the loan. His

scheme was revealed when he filed for bankruptcy in 1999. The

investigation was based on a referral from the U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee

in Norfolk, Virginia.

The following cases illustrate OIG investigations involving fraud in

connection with business loan default.

• A former president of a meat distribution business in Cumming, Iowa,

was charged in a six-count superceding indictment. The two original

counts, in connection with a $1.4 million SBA-guaranteed loan he

received to purchase the business, were concealing a material fact from

SBA and bank fraud. These counts alleged that he wrote an insufficientfunds check and perpetrated a “check kite” to make it appear he had

made a required $300,000 equity injection, and converted vehicles

pledged to the lender on this same loan. The superceding indictment

added four additional counts that: (1) alleged he transported monetary

instruments of more than $10,000 outside the U.S. without filing a

Report of International Transportation of Currency; (2) alleged he

embezzled $483,486 from the retirement plan of another meat

distribution business he owned; (3) alleged he laundered the money he

embezzled from that retirement plan; and (4) called for him to forfeit to

the U.S. the money he allegedly obtained feloniously. The businessman

Construction company

owner sentenced for

conspiracy to commit

money laundering in

connection with an

SBA-guaranteed loan.
OIG Activities

Semiannual Report September 2001 17

defaulted on his loan, leaving an unpaid balance of more than $1.25

million. OIG initiated this investigation based on a referral from SBA’s

Des Moines District Office.

• The president of a brake parts company in Tyler, Texas, and his wife

were first indicted on 13 counts of bankruptcy fraud, 1 count of money

laundering, and 1 count of conspiracy. Subsequently, a superseding

indictment was filed which added four more counts of bankruptcy fraud,

two counts of making false statements, one more count of conspiracy,

and one more count of money laundering. The president allegedly

created fraudulent invoices showing inventory of the business as being

sold when, in fact, the merchandise was still in his possession. He then

went on to file for both personal and corporate bankruptcy while

allegedly using the company’s inventory to start a second company.

Both defendants allegedly executed their scheme by “check-kiting”

assets through numerous accounts. The SBA loans obtained by them

totaled $500,000. OIG initiated this investigation based on a referral

from SBA’s Dallas/Fort Worth District Office.

Disaster Loan Program

The following cases illustrate OIG investigations of fraud to obtain

disaster loans.

• A Reno, Nevada, man pled guilty to one count of making material false

statements to SBA. As part of the plea agreement, the Government

agreed to dismiss the one count of mail fraud on which he had also been

indicted. The defendant obtained a $213,600 disaster home loan

following floods in Washoe County, Nevada, in December 1996, and

January 1997. His original disaster loan application had been declined

because SBA was unable to verify his income tax return and could not

determine his repayment ability. He requested reconsideration of his

loan application and submitted new information regarding additional

employment income. He claimed he was employed at a Reno restaurant

for 10 months in 1996 and earned $60,000; however, the investigation

disclosed he was employed at the business for 3 months and earned only

$2,060. Based on his lies, SBA sent loan proceeds to a title company in

Reno for his benefit.

• A Grand Isle, Louisiana, seafood company was sentenced to 5 years

probation and a $4,500 fine. The corporation pled guilty through its

president to making false statements to influence SBA to disburse a

$325,600 disaster loan for the business. The seafood company admitted

to submitting documents that failed to disclose that the corporation and

its president had been indicted for, and subsequently pled guilty to,

violations of the Lacey Act. OIG initiated its investigation based on an

Nevada man pleads guilty

to one count of making

material false statements in

applying for an SBA

disaster home loan.
OIG Activities

18 Semiannual Report September 2001

anonymous Fraud Line complaint and, as a result of the investigation,

SBA canceled the $145,600 undisbursed balance of the approved loan

and recovered $161,798 from the seafood company.

• An Albuquerque, New Mexico, woman was charged in a superseding

indictment with an additional four counts of wire fraud, one count of

mail fraud, and one count of impersonation of a Federal employee to

fraudulently influence SBA to fund a $40,000 disaster home loan. She

had been indicted in January 2001 on three counts of mail fraud, one

count of wire fraud, one count of filing false claims, one count of

impersonation of a Federal employee, one count of making material

false statements, and one count of false representation of an SSN. The

defendant, using the name and SSN of a deceased acquaintance, applied

for disaster assistance from SBA and the Federal Emergency

Management Agency. She submitted numerous false documents in

support of her damage claim; she also attempted to obtain information

about her claim and investigation by posing as a representative of the

U.S. Attorney’s Office. The investigation determined that neither the

defendant nor her deceased acquaintance ever resided at the address

claimed in the disaster assistance application.

• A Paradise Valley, Arizona, couple has been adjudicated guilty of mail

fraud. First, the wife pled guilty to all four counts on which she was

previously indicted. Then, the husband was convicted on one of the four

counts on which he was previously indicted. The couple had obtained a

$231,300 disaster home loan after the 1994 Northridge, California,

earthquake. OIG’s investigation revealed that the couple had submitted

a series of false invoices to SBA indicating that various contractors had

done work when in fact they had not. The couple also received two loan

payment deferments from SBA. Both times they claimed they had no

money or assets. The investigation later revealed that the couple owned

five properties in the Phoenix, Arizona, area that were not disclosed to

SBA. OIG initiated the case based on a referral from SBA’s Santa Ana

Loan Servicing and Liquidation Center.

Small Business Investment Companies

The following narratives illustrate OIG investigations of fraud by

principals of SBICs.

• The president of a New York City SBIC was indicted on one count of

misapplication of SBIC funds and four counts of embezzlement of SBIC

assets. The indictment charged that he: (1) improperly negotiated for

his personal use $84,400 in checks drawn on the SBIC’s bank account;

(2) caused the illegal transfer of a Bedford, New York, parcel of real

estate valued at $363,613 from the SBIC without consideration to a
OIG Activities

Semiannual Report September 2001 19

second company that he solely owned; (3) caused the illegal transfer of

a Dobbs Ferry, New York, property valued at $361,296 from the SBIC

without consideration to yet another company that he owned;

(4) improperly caused $33,869 in loan payments from a Westbury,

New York, borrower to be diverted from the SBIC to the solely owned

company and later converted to his own use; and (5) illegally caused

$119,096 in loan payments from a Raritan, New Jersey, borrower to be

diverted to the solely owned company and converted to his own use.

These and other actions of the defendant allegedly caused a loss to SBA

of over $1 million and forced SBA to liquidate the SBIC in December

1992. The executive subsequently pled guilty to one count of

embezzlement of SBIC assets (count 3). As part of the plea agreement,

the Government agreed to dismiss the other four counts on which he had

been indicted. OIG based this investigation on a referral from SBA’s

Office of General Counsel (OGC).

• The president of a now-defunct SBIC in New York, New York, was

sentenced to 5 years supervised release (the first 8 months to be served

as home confinement) and $3,000 restitution to SBA. He previously

pled guilty to one count of embezzling funds belonging to the SBIC.

From October 1987, through November 1994, he had caused the SBIC

to overpay, to the advantage of two private companies affiliated with

him, approximately $71,176 more than its rightful rent obligations at the

site they jointly occupied. These actions significantly contributed to

SBA’s loss, which exceeded $2.2 million. This investigation originated

from a referral from SBA’s OGC.

Surety Guarantees

Surety Company Audit

OIG issued an audit report of a surety company and found that the

surety correctly calculated and timely remitted fees to SBA. However, the

audit found that the surety did not always comply with SBA regulations for

underwriting and servicing bonds and processing claims. More specifically,

the company did not: (1) maintain copies of invoices or other proof of claim

to support claim payments for two bonds; (2) request and maintain status

reports for one bond; and (3) notify SBA in a timely manner of the

principal’s default for one bond. As a result, OIG recommended that the

Associate Administrator for Office of Surety Guarantees (AA/OSG) take

appropriate actions to recover $49,916.51 from the surety and advise the

surety to implement policies and procedures to correct the deficiencies and

ensure that it complies with SBA’s requirements. The AA/OSG agreed with

all of the recommendations.

Audit finds that a surety

company did not always

comply with SBA

regulations for

underwriting and

servicing bonds and

processing claims.
OIG Activities

20 Semiannual Report September 2001

The following case illustrates OIG investigations of fraud by an

applicant to the Surety Guarantee program.

• The president of a Birmingham, Alabama, construction company was

indicted on one count of making a material false statement and two

counts of making false statements to fraudulently influence SBA to

guarantee five surety bonds totaling more than $1.17 million. He

allegedly denied having a criminal history on the SBA application. The

investigation documented that he had been charged with, arrested for,

and/or convicted of at least 29 criminal offenses. The construction

company president also allegedly submitted a financial statement

indicating ownership of two pieces of real estate with a total value of

$450,000. Not only did he not own these properties; their combined

actual value was less than $50,000. His company failed to complete any

of the bonded contracts, and an SBA preferred surety insurance

company paid $324,170 on these bonds. This investigation was based

on the findings of a surety bond audit by OIG’s Auditing Division.

Entrepreneurial Development Programs

Women’s Business Center

OIG issued an audit report on a women’s business center in Vermont.

SBA partially funds the center through a 5-year cooperative agreement with

a Vermont college. The audit covered the first year and a half of the center’s

operations and focused on the financial aspects of the cooperative

agreement. The audit identified issues related to: (1) inadequate financial

management of the award; (2) insufficient cash match; (3) unallowable

expenditures and in-kind contributions; and (4) inaccurate and inconsistent

financial information submitted to SBA. As a result, OIG recommended

that the college remit $36,185 to SBA. The Associate Administrator for

Office of Women’s Business Ownership and the Acting Assistant

Administrator for Administration ((A)AA/A) agreed with the findings and

recommendations.

Government Contracting and Business

Development Program

The following cases illustrate OIG investigations of fraud in

connection with the Section 8(a)BD program.

• The president of a Raleigh, North Carolina, general contracting business

was indicted on seven counts of aiding and abetting mail fraud and two
OIG Activities

Semiannual Report September 2001 21

counts of aiding and abetting wire fraud. His business was indicted on

the same charges. Both were charged with submitting falsely certified

payment requests under various Section 8(a) contracts from the Army,

Navy, Postal Service, and Department of Veterans Affairs. To induce

disbursements of contract funds, allegedly the falsely certified requests

stated that all subcontractors and vendors had been paid. Allegedly,

through the fraudulent statements, the defendants diverted over

$900,000 that was due subcontractors and suppliers. The Government

lost an additional $700,000 by having to re-procure the completion of

several contracts left incomplete by the business, which SBA terminated

from the Section 8(a) program in 1997. OIG initiated this investigation

based on a referral from the Army’s Criminal Investigation Command.

• A defunct Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Section 8(a) construction

company and its president and vice president were sentenced for their

roles in a fraud scheme. The vice president was sentenced to 33 months

incarceration, 2 years supervised release, and a $1,300 court fee. The

president was sentenced to 1 year and 1 day incarceration, 3 years

supervised release, and a $1,500 court fee. The corporation was

sentenced to 5 years probation and a $5,600 court fee. The three

defendants were also sentenced to pay over $1.98 million restitution to

the victims (subcontractors), for which they are liable jointly and

severally. The president previously pled guilty to 15 felony counts in

connection with alleged schemes to defraud SBA, the Department of the

Navy, and the Department of Agriculture: 1 count of conspiracy to

defraud the Government; 12 counts of false claims; 1 count of major

fraud against the United States; and 1 count of making a material false

statement. The false statement count related to his representing his

assets at $40,000 to SBA on the same day that he represented his assets

at over $1.6 million to a bonding company. The vice president was

previously convicted of one count of conspiracy to defraud the

Government, nine counts of false claims, two counts of making material

false statements, and one count of major fraud against the United States.

The two false statement counts relate to the vice president denying in the

Section 8(a) application that he had a criminal history; in fact he had

been arrested seven times and convicted three times. The other counts

related to falsely reported payments to subcontractors and falsely

submitted progress payment certifications. The company previously

pled guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to defraud the Government, 12

counts of false claims, and 1 count of major fraud against the United

States.

• A Poplar Bluff, Missouri, construction company and its president were

indicted in connection with the Section 8(a) program. The indictment

charged the president and his corporation with four counts of major

fraud against the United States; it also charged the president with two

counts of obtaining illegal kickbacks, three counts of mail fraud, and
OIG Activities

22 Semiannual Report September 2001

three counts of making material false statements. The investigation

showed that the president used intimidation or threats against two

employees of his company in order to obtain part of their compensation

during a Government construction project. Further, he allegedly used

the U.S. mail to obtain money from various insurance companies by

false pretenses. Finally, he allegedly submitted false statements and

fraudulent documents to SBA in a scheme to obtain Section 8(a) status

and resulting contracts, falsely claiming to be Cherokee Indian and to

have suffered consequent economic disadvantage. His Section 8(a)

application also allegedly concealed his criminal record for assault. The

indictment charged that the company was awarded contracts in excess of

$1 million with the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of

Defense, and the Department of Transportation because of its

president’s fraudulent representations.

Proposed Rule to Establish the Women-Owned Small Business Federal

Contract Assistance Program

OIG reviewed a proposed regulation that would establish new

regulations implementing the Women-Owned Small Business Federal

Contract Program authorized under Section 811 of the Small Business

Reauthorization Act of 2000, Pub. L. 106-554. At the time the reporting

period ended, OIG did not support the proposed regulation as we disagreed

with its definition of economic disadvantage. This definition is modeled

after that used in the regulations for the Section 8(a)BD program, which we

believe to be flawed. We have cited SBA’s use of this flawed definition for

the past 2 years as a Top 10 Management Challenge facing the Agency, and

we do not believe that this definition should be expanded to other Agency

programs until a more realistic standard is developed and adopted. Our

concerns are that the current standard does not appear to be based upon any

empirical data, and may allow individuals into these programs who are not

economically disadvantaged. OIG and the Office of GC/BD continue to

negotiate this issue.

Agency Management

Paper Report Production

OIG issued an audit report entitled Paper Report Production. The

audit revealed that the Agency’s production of hard copy reports could be

reduced. The Office of the Chief Information Officer’s (OCIO) print facility

uses at least 500,000 sheets of paper to print a variety of different reports.

Many of the report recipients interviewed by OIG indicated that they use

little, if any, of the information contained in the reports, while others stated

they would prefer to receive reports in an electronic format.

OIG recommends that the

Agency should develop a

more realistic definition of

economic disadvantage.
OIG Activities

Semiannual Report September 2001 23

OIG recommended that OCIO coordinate with program offices and the

Office of Administration to identify which reports can be discontinued or

provided electronically, and to periodically review paper report production

to eliminate unneeded printing. OCIO agreed with the recommendations.

Hired Car Service and Home-to-Work/Work-to-Home Transportation

In response to a congressional request, OIG completed a review of

SBA’s use of hired car services and home-to-work/work-to-home

transportation provided to senior SBA officials. OIG reviewed this activity

from FY 1998 through January 19, 2001, the timeframe in which the former

Administrator and Deputy Administrator utilized the services. OIG

identified areas where SBA’s Office of Administrative Services (OAS)

could improve its management over hired car service(s) and Government

vehicles. OAS lacked adequate controls to ensure that SBA was paying the

appropriate amount for hired car services and that Government vehicles

were used only for official Government business. Also, OAS permitted nonGovernment employees to operate Government vehicles, which increased

the liability to the Federal Government, and it did not enter into a contract

for hired car services although the annual cost exceeded the amount whereby

contracts are required. The (A)AA/A generally agreed with the findings and

will take corrective measures.

Review of Sensitive Payments

Based on a request by OIG, Cotton & Company LLP expanded their

review of sensitive payments started during SBA’s FY 2000 financial

statement audit. The review found that: (1) appropriated funds may have

been used to pay for one trip for the former Administrator’s political travel;

(2) SBA paid some costs of personal travel by a former regional

administrator; (3) SBA’s travel order review process was not always

thorough; and (4) SBA offices did not always comply with required

procedures over sensitive payments. The report recommends changes in

SBA’s policies and procedures to help correct these problems. The

CFO, (A)AA/A, and Acting General Counsel generally agreed with the

11 recommendations in the audit report and discussed actions taken and

planned to correct the deficiencies.

Proposed Legislation: H.R. 2547, Erroneous Payments Recovery Act of

2001

OIG reviewed H.R. 2547, the “Erroneous Payments Recovery Act of

2001,” which would require certain executive agencies to implement and

carry out a cost-effective program for identifying any errors made in paying

Audit finds that the

Agency could improve its

management of car

service(s) and Government

vehicles.
OIG Activities

24 Semiannual Report September 2001

contractors and for recovering any amounts erroneously paid to contractors.

OIG supported the proposed legislation, but recommended the addition of

language requiring Government officials performing recovery reviews to

immediately report to their agency’s IG any indication of fraud or other

criminal activity that is discovered during their reviews.

Review of SBA’s Plan for Hiring Persons with Disabilities

OIG reviewed SBA’s plan for hiring persons with disabilities, which

supports President Bush’s “New Freedom Initiative.” OIG was supportive

of the plan that calls for SBA to actively recruit, hire, and train persons with

disabilities and to develop strategies to ensure that reasonable

accommodation needs are met. However, the proposed plan uses a list of

disabilities that has not been updated since August 1987, as its definition of

“persons with disabilities.” Under this definition, a person who self-certifies

that he/she has a disability that is not among those on the list is not

considered a person with a disability even if he/she is currently receiving

Federal or State disability benefits. Since the purpose of the President’s

initiative is to tear down barriers for all who are disabled, OIG

recommended adopting a broader definition of a “person with a disability”

to ensure that all who are limited in one or more major life activities are

provided with an opportunity to work to their full potential.

Office of Inspector General

Ten Most Significant Performance Measures and Underlying Data

At the request of the Chairman of the House Government Reform

Committee, on May 11, 2001, OIG submitted an assessment of what we

consider to be SBA's 10 most significant performance measures and the data

underlying those measures. For the request, OIG used the measures in

SBA's FY 2002 Performance Plan because they improve substantially on the

measures in the FY 2000 Performance Report. Our assessment was based

primarily on five OIG audits and two inspections that reviewed GPRA

implementation, and the validity and reliability of underlying performance

data of selected major Agency programs.

In addition to identifying the 10 most significant performance measures for

achieving SBA's mission, OIG also indicated: (1) the extent to which the

performance measure is a useful indicator of performance; (2) whether the

data or information underlying the measure is valid and accurate; and

(3) what actions SBA is taking, or plans to take, to resolve measure and data

problems.

OIG submits to Congress

an assessment of what we

consider to be SBA's 10

most significant

performance measures

and the data underlying

those measures.
OIG Activities

Semiannual Report September 2001 25

OIG believes that, of the 10 measures, 4 are useful in indicating program

performance, 4 are somewhat useful, and 2 are not useful. To respond to the

FY 2001 management challenge to improve the "managing for results

process," SBA is developing specific guidance concerning the preparation of

organizational performance goals and indicators. In the audits and

inspections relating to the 10 measures identified in this report, OIG found

data validity and accuracy problems that SBA has also agreed to address.

Officewide Training Conference

OIG held an officewide training conference in May 2001. All OIG

employees attended and took part in various division-specific training

sessions and seminars. The conference proved to be an excellent

opportunity for OIG to better define its mission and goals, and to further

improve its workforce and resources.

OIG Fraud Awareness Briefings

OIG conducted several briefings for SBA’s employees, lenders, and

other resource partners as part of its mission to educate its customers on

identifying waste, fraud, and abuse. During this reporting period (as the

chart below illustrates) over 57 percent of the investigations initiated by OIG

originated from within the Agency in the form of referrals either from

program heads or other SBA employees. This cooperation indicates the

strong commitment of SBA employees to reducing waste, fraud, and abuse

in Agency programs and improving the Agency’s management and control

of its programs. However, we have recognized the shift in SBA’s role from

primarily reviewing and processing loans to increasingly providing oversight

of lending practices; accordingly, we have changed our briefing strategy.

Much of our past success resulted from referrals from conscientious SBA

employees; our continued successes will depend more on lender referrals.

OIG has therefore expanded its integrity-awareness briefing program to

include participating lenders and other interested parties. During this

reporting period we conducted the following briefings:

• Presentations to 410 attendees at lenders training sessions in San Diego,

San Francisco, and Santa Ana, California, and Puerto Rico;

• A presentation to 34 attendees at a disaster-fraud awareness meeting for

State and local law enforcement officers in Oakland, California;

• A presentation about SBA to 4 professional staff of the Nuclear

Regulatory Commission’s OIG; and

• An integrity awareness briefing to 35 SBA employees in Chicago.
OIG Activities

26 Semiannual Report September 2001

Office of Security Operations

Pursuant to provisions of the Small Business Act and the Small

Business Investment Act, SBA requires applicants for assistance to meet

certain character standards before participating in Agency programs. OIG’s

Office of Security Operations (OSO) helps SBA ensure that Agency

program participants meet the standards by processing name checks and,

where appropriate, fingerprint checks on applicants. To make character

eligibility determinations, OSO makes use of its on-line connection with

FBI’s Machine Readable Data system. When program applicants appear to

be ineligible for assistance based on character, OSO makes referrals to

program officials for adjudication. During this reporting period, OSO made

referrals that resulted in SBA’s business loan program managers declining

52 applications and disaster loan program officials declining 5 applications,

totaling $18,033,330 and $92,000 respectively, for character reasons. Those

declinations made available that amount of credit for applicants in whom

SBA can have confidence of repayment. In addition, officials of SBA’s

Section 8(a) and surety bond programs declined, respectively, four

applications for certification and one application for guaranty. Almost $208

million in loans have been declined during the last 10 years due to character

eligibility.

OSO also performs background checks to comply with Federal regulations

that require Agency employees to have security clearances appropriate for

their positions. During this reporting period, OSO initiated 26 background

investigations and issued 9 security clearances. OSO also reviewed and

adjudicated 77 background investigative reports in accordance with

Executive Order 10450 and OMB Circular A-130, and coordinated with

SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance to ensure the timely adjudication of 31

derogatory background investigative reports forwarded for review and

appropriate action.

OIG continues to make

referrals that result in

SBA declining loans in

both the business loan

and disaster loan

programs. OIG also

continues to perform

background checks and

security clearances for

Agency employees.
OIG Activities

Semiannual Report September 2001 27

Direct Audit Time by Program Area

April 1, 2001, to September 30, 2001

Program Area Direct Time % Number of Audits

Issued In Progress

Capital Access 46% 3 6

Disaster Assistance 10% 0 3

Government Contracting and

Business Development

1% 0 0

Agency Management 41% 6 5

Entrepreneurial Development 2% 1 1

Total

100% 10 15

Sources of Referrals in OIG 

Investigations from April 1, 2001, to 

September 30, 2001

17.0%

14.9%

4.3%

57.4%

6.4% SBA

Other Federal Agencies

Private Citizens

Lenders

Other
OIG Activities

28 Semiannual Report September 2001

Direct Investigation Time by Program Area

April 1, 2001, to September 30, 2001

Program Area Direct Time % Number of Investigations*

Closed** In Progress

Capital Access 67% 27 229

Disaster Assistance 13% 8 108

Government Contracting and

Business Development

7% 6 37

Agency Management 13% 7 29

Entrepreneurial Development *** 0 2

Total

100% 48 405

* Includes civil cases ** Includes cases canceled *** Less than 1⁄2 percent
Statistical Highlights

Semiannual Report September 2001 29

FY 2001 6-Month Productivity Statistics

April 1, 2001, through September 30, 2001

Office-wide Dollar Accomplishments Totals

A. Potential Investigative Recoveries and Fines.............................................................. $3,625,931

B. Loans Not Made as Result of Investigations and Name Checks............................... $18,182,958

C. Disallowed Costs Agreed to by Management................................................................ $250,287

D. Recommendations that Funds Be Put to Better

 Use Agreed to by Management .................................................................................. $4,530,161

Total $26,589,337

Auditing Division Activities

A. Audit Reports Issued................................................................................................................. 10

B. Audit Recommendations Issued................................................................................................ 85

C. Dollar Value of Costs Questioned.................................................................................... $88,431

D. Dollar Value of Recommendations that Funds

Be Put to Better Use ........................................................................................................ $0

Audit Follow-up Activities

A. Audit Recommendations Closed.............................................................................................. 42

B. Disallowed Costs Agreed to by Management............................................................... $250,287

C. Dollar Value of Recommendations that Funds Be Put to Better Use

Agreed to by Management ................................................................................. $4,530,161

D. Unresolved Audit Recommendations ...................................................................................... 80

Inspection and Evaluation Division Activities

A. Reports Issued............................................................................................................................. 1

Legislation/Regulations/SOPs/Other Reviews

A. Legislation Reviewed ................................................................................................................. 5

B. Regulations Reviewed............................................................................................................... 19

C. Standard Operating Procedures Reviewed.................................................................................. 8

D. Other Issuances Reviewed* ...................................................................................................... 74

* This includes policy notices, procedural notices, Administrator’s action memoranda, and other communications, which

frequently involve the implementation of new programs and policies.
Statistical Highlights

30 Semiannual Report September 2001

Investigations Division Activities

A. Total Cases.............................................................................................................................. 453

B. Closed Cases ............................................................................................................................. 48

C. Pending Cases ........................................................................................................................... 13

D. Open Cases ............................................................................................................................. 392

E. Subjects Under Investigation................................................................................................ 1,839

F. Cases Referred to FBI or Other Agencies for Investigation........................................................ 8

Summary of Indictments and Convictions

A. Indictments from OIG Cases .................................................................................................... 18

B. Convictions from OIG Cases .................................................................................................... 12

Summary of Recoveries and Management Avoidances

A. Potential Recoveries and Fines as a Result of

OIG Investigations.............................................................................................. $3,625,931

B. Loans Not Approved as a Result of OIG Investigations.................................................. $57,628

C. Loans Not Approved as a Result of the Name

 Check Program ................................................................................................. $18,125,330

Total: .......................................................................................................................... $21,808,889

SBA Personnel Actions Taken as a Result of Investigations

A. Dismissals ................................................................................................................................... 0

B. Resignations/Retirements............................................................................................................ 2

C. Suspensions................................................................................................................................. 0

D. Reprimands ................................................................................................................................ 1

Program Actions Taken as a Result of Investigations

A. Suspensions................................................................................................................................. 0

B. Debarments ................................................................................................................................. 0

C. Removals from Program ............................................................................................................. 0

D. Other Program Actions ............................................................................................................... 0

Summary of OIG Fraud Line Operation

A. Total Fraud Line Calls/Letters................................................................................................ 799

B. Total Calls/Letters Referred to Investigations Division for Evaluation.................................... 12

C. Total Calls/Letters Referred to Program Offices or Other Federal

Investigative Agencies...................................................................................................... 91

D. Total Other Calls/Letters ........................................................................................................ 696
Statistical Highlights

Semiannual Report September 2001 31

FY 2001 Full Year Productivity Statistics

October 1, 2000, through September 30, 2001

Office-wide Dollar Accomplishments Totals

A. Potential Investigative Recoveries and Fines ............................................................$11,630,313

B. Loans Not Made as Result of Investigations and Name Checks ...............................$25,716,960

C. Disallowed Costs Agreed to by Management..............................................................$3,622,085

D. Recommendations that Funds Be Put to Better

 Use Agreed to by Management ...................................................................................$5,984,419

Total $46,953,777

Auditing Division Activities

A. Audit Reports Issued..................................................................................................................27

B. Audit Recommendations Issued ..............................................................................................146

C. Dollar Value of Costs Questioned ..................................................................................$520,673

D. Dollar Value of Recommendations that Funds

Be Put to Better Use .........................................................................................$11,061,994

Audit Follow-up Activities

A. Audit Recommendations Closed ............................................................................................124

B. Disallowed Costs Agreed to by Management.............................................................$3,622,085

C. Dollar Value of Recommendations that Funds Be Put to Better Use

Agreed to by Management ..................................................................................$5,984,419

D. Unresolved Audit Recommendations .......................................................................................80

Inspection and Evaluation Division Activities

A. Reports Issued..............................................................................................................................3

Legislation/Regulations/SOPs/Other Reviews

A. Legislation Reviewed ..................................................................................................................6

B. Regulations Reviewed ...............................................................................................................41

C. Standard Operating Procedures Reviewed.................................................................................15

D. Other Issuances Reviewed*.....................................................................................................159

* This includes policy notices, procedural notices, Administrator’s action memoranda, and other

communications, which frequently involve the implementation of new programs and policies.
Statistical Highlights

32 Semiannual Report September 2001

Investigations Division Activities

A. Total Cases ............................................................................................................................. 478

B. Closed Cases ............................................................................................................................. 73

C. Pending Cases ........................................................................................................................... 13

D. Open Cases ............................................................................................................................. 392

E. Subjects Under Investigation ............................................................................................... 1,921

F. Cases Referred to FBI or Other Agencies for Investigation...................................................... 25

Summary of Indictments and Convictions

A. Indictments from OIG Cases .................................................................................................... 50

B. Convictions from OIG Cases .................................................................................................. 41*

Summary of Recoveries and Management Avoidances

A. Potential Recoveries and Fines as a Result of

OIG Investigations ............................................................................................$11,630,313

B. Loans Not Approved as a Result of OIG Investigations................................................ $115,347

C. Loans Not Approved as a Result of the Name

 Check Program..................................................................................................$25,601,613

Total: ...........................................................................................................................$37,347,273

SBA Personnel Actions Taken as a Result of Investigations

A. Dismissals................................................................................................................................... 1

B. Resignations/Retirements ........................................................................................................... 3

C. Suspensions................................................................................................................................. 1

D. Reprimands ................................................................................................................................ 1

Program Actions Taken as a Result of Investigations

A. Suspensions ................................................................................................................................ 0

B. Debarments ................................................................................................................................. 0

C. Removals from Program............................................................................................................. 0

D. Other Program Actions............................................................................................................... 0

Summary of OIG Fraud Line Operation

A. Total Fraud Line Calls/Letters............................................................................................. 1,358

B. Total Calls/Letters Referred to Investigations Division for Evaluation.................................... 21

C. Total Calls/Letters Referred to Program Offices or Other Federal

Investigative Agencies ................................................................................................... 189

D. Total Other Calls/Letters ..................................................................................................... 1,148

* The first 6-month statistic and the second 6-month statistic do not equal the full year statistic because one case was not recorded before

the release of the Spring 2001 SAR.
Inspector General Act Statutory Reporting Requirements

Semiannual Report September 2001 33

The specific reporting requirements prescribed in the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended by the

Inspector General Act Amendments of 1988, are listed below.

Source Pages

Section 4(a)(2 ) Review of Legislation and Regulations 22, 24

Section 5(a)(1) Significant Problems, Abuses, and Deficiencies 4-28

Section 5(a)(2) Recommendations with Respect to Significant Problems, Abuses,

 And Deficiencies 4-28

Section 5(a)(3) Prior Significant Recommendations Not Yet Implemented 38

Section 5(a)(4) Matters Referred to Prosecutive Authorities 39-43

Section 5(a)(5) 

 And 6(b)(2) Summary of Instances Where Information Was Refused None

Section 5(a)(6) Listing of Audit Reports 35

Section 5(a)(7) Summary of Significant Audits 4-24

Section 5(a)(8) Audit Reports with Questioned Costs 36

Section 5(a)(9) Audit Reports with Recommendations that Funds Be Put to Better Use 36

Section 5(a)(10) Summary of Reports Where No Management Decision Was Made 37

Section 5(a)(11) Significant Revised Management Decisions None

Section 5(a)(12) Significant Management Decisions with Which OIG Disagreed None
34 Semiannual Report September 2001

TABLE OF APPENDICES

Appendix Page

Appendix I – Audit Reports Issued.............................................................................................35

Appendix II

 Part A – Inspector General-Issued Audit Reports

 With Questioned Costs ................................................................................................36

 Part B – Inspector General-Issued Audit Reports

 With Recommendations that Funds Be Put to Better Use ...........................................36

 Part C – Inspector General-Issued Audit Reports

 With Non-Monetary Recommendations......................................................................37

 Part D – Inspector General-Issued Audit Reports

 With Overdue Management Decision..........................................................................37

 Part E – Significant Audit Reports

 Without Final Action ...................................................................................................38

Appendix III – Six Month Arrested/Indicted/Convicted Summary............................................39

Appendix IV – Six Month Sentencing Summary .......................................................................42
Semiannual Report September 2001 35

APPENDIX I

Audit Reports Issued

April 1, 2001, to September 30, 2001

TITLE NUMBER ISSUE

DATE

QUESTIONED

COSTS

FUNDS FOR

BETTER

USE

Capital Access

SBA Follow Up on SBLC Examinations 1-16 8/17/01

Farmington Casualty 1-18 9/21/01 $49,917

PLP Oversight Process 1-19 9/27/01

Program sub-total 3 reports $49,917 $0

Entrepreneurial Development

Women’s Business Center 1-17 9/19/01 $36,185

Program sub-total 1 report $36,185 $0

Agency Management

Paper Report Production 1-14 8/3/01

FY 2000 Management Letter 1-15 8/15/01

Government Cars and Hired Cars A1-05 9/27/01 $2,329

Unix Operating Systems 1-21 9/28/01

Sensitive Payments 1-20 9/28/01

SBA Computer Security Program A1-06 9/28/01

Program sub-total 6 reports $0 $0

TOTALS (all programs) 10 reports $88,431 $0
36 Semiannual Report September 2001

APPENDIX II - Part A

Audit Reports with Questioned Costs

April 1, 2001, to September 30, 2001

REPORTS RECs* COSTS**

QUESTIONED UNSUPPORTED

A. For which no management decision had

been made by March 31, 2001

2 4 $735,822 $0

B. Which were issued during the period 3 4 $88,431 $0

Subtotals (A + B) 5 8 $824,253 $0

C. For which a management decision was

made during the reporting period

1 3 $250,771 $0

(i) Disallowed costs 1 2 $250,287 $0

(ii) Costs not disallowed 1 1 $484 $0

D. For which no management decision had

been made by September 30, 2001

4 5 $573,4482 $0

* Recommendations

** Questioned costs are those which are found to be improper, whereas unsupported costs may be proper but lack documentation.

APPENDIX II - Part B

Audit Reports with Recommendations that Funds Be Put to Better Use

April 1, 2001, to September 30, 2001

REPORTS RECs* RECOMMENDED

 FUNDS FOR

BETTER USE

A. For which no management decision

had been made by March 31, 2001

3 3 $11,061,994

B. Which were issued during the period 0 0 $0

Subtotals (A + B) 3 3 $11,061,994

C. For which a management decision was

made during the reporting period

3 3 $11,061,994

(i) Recommendations agreed to

by SBA management

3 3 $4,530,161

(ii) Recommendations not agreed

to by SBA management

1 1 $6,531,803

D. For which no management decision

had been made by September 30, 2001

0 0 $0

* Recommendations
Semiannual Report September 2001 37

APPENDIX II - Part C

Audits Reports with Non-Monetary Recommendations

April 1, 2001, to September 30, 2001

REPORTS RECOMMENDATIONS

A. For which no management decision had

been made by March 31, 2001

10 30

B. Which were issued during the period 10 81

Subtotals (A + B) 20 111

C. For which a management decision was

made (for at least one recommendation in

the report) during the reporting period

12 36

D. For which no management decision (for at

least one recommendation in the report)

had been made by September 30, 2001

9 75

APPENDIX II – Part D

Issued Audit Reports with Overdue Management Decisions

September 30, 2001

TITLE NUMBER ISSUED STATUS

Dixieland Events/Tamingo Farms 0-05 2/16/00 Recover $485,051 from the lender
38 Semiannual Report September 2001

APPENDIX II - Part E

Significant Audit Reports Described in Prior Semiannual Reports

Without Final Action as of September 30, 2001

Report

Number

Title Date

Issued

Date of

Management

Decision

Final

Action

Target

43H006021 8(a) Continuing Eligibility 9/30/94 10/30/94 11/15/01

53H004006 Loan Servicing and Debt Collection 3/31/95 4/30/95 12/31/01

75H011026 Business Loan Guarantee Purchases 9/30/97 8/15/00 12/31/01

88H002017 NOAA Computer Contracts 6/18/98 3/1/99 11/15/01

9-11 Non-Tax Delinquent Debt 7/28/99 8/13/99 12/31/01

9-15 Disaster Home Loan Servicing

Centers

8/3/99 9/20/99 12/31/01

9-23 Survey of Electronic Records

Management

9/15/99 11/30/99 11/30/01

0-05 Dixieland Events/Tamingo Farms 2/14/00 * *

0-11 NADI Manufacturing, Inc. 3/28/00 6/13/00 12/30/01

0-14 7(a) Service Fee Collections 3/30/00 8/22/00 10/31/00

0-15 Systems Development Methodology 3/30/00 9/29/00 9/30/02

0-19 SDB Business Certification Program 6/30/00 3/30/01 3/31/02

0-25 GPRA – SBIC 9/7/00 *** **

0-26 GPRA – Surety Bond Program 9/26/00 1/30/01 3/31/02

0-28 Rhode Island District Advisory

Council

9/29/00 *** **

0-29 MBELDEF Cosponsorship 9/29/00 *** 11/15/01

0-30 SBA Administration of MBELDEF 9/30/00 3/26/01 **

0-31 Boscart Construction Inc. 9/30/00 *** **

* At least one recommendation remains open.

** Target dates vary with different recommendations.

*** Management decision dates vary with different recommendations.
Semiannual Report September 2001 39

APPENDIX III

Six Month Arrested/Indicted/Convicted Summary

State Program Alleged Violation(s) Prosecuted Arrested/

Indicted/

Convicted/

Investigated

Jointly

With. . .

 AL SBG Construction executive fraudulently influenced SBA to guarantee

five surety bonds totaling $1.17 million. On SBA application, he

denied having criminal history; in fact, he had been charged with,

arrested for, and/or convicted of 29 criminal offenses. He also

reported ownership of two pieces of real estate with total value of

$450,000. He did not own these properties, and their combined

actual value was less than $50,000. His company failed to

complete any of bonded contracts, and SBA preferred surety

insurance company paid $324,170 on these bonds. *

Executive

indicted

None

 AZ BL In connection with $1 million SBA-guaranteed loan to buy two

fast-food restaurants, friend helped create fraudulent promissory

note for bogus $400,000 loan from him to two borrowers to

indicate that borrowers had greater debts that would require large

loan. Prior to loan closing, additional fraudulent documentation

was created to show that note had been paid down to about

$206,000 and that remaining debt could be paid with $150,000 in

SBA-guaranteed loan proceeds and about $56,000 in personal

funds. Friend never received $56,000 but, at loan closing,

$150,000 check was issued from SBA loan proceeds as his payoff

on fraudulent note. He in turn endorsed check to one borrower and

never received any benefit for his role in fraudulent note. Men used

$150,000 for personal and business benefit. *

Three men

indicted

FBI

 CA DL Couple obtained $231,300 disaster home loan following Northridge

earthquake by submitting false invoices; received repayment

deferments by concealing ownership of real estate properties. *

Wife: Pled

guilty

Husband:

Convicted

None

 IA BL To obtain $1.4 million SBA-guaranteed loan to purchase business,

former president of meat company wrote insufficient-funds check

and perpetrated “check kite” to make it appear that required equity

injection was made; concealed undisclosed promissory note to

seller; converted vehicles pledged to bank on same loan.

Subsequently charged with unreported international transportation

of currency, embezzlement of $483,486, money laundering. *

Superseding

indictment of

president

FBI, USCS,

PWBA

 MO 8aBD President of Section 8(a) construction company used intimidation

or threats against two company employees to obtain part of their

compensation during Government construction project; used U.S.

mail to obtain money from insurance companies by false pretenses;

submitted false statements to SBA to obtain Section 8(a) status and

resulting contracts, falsely claiming to be Cherokee Indian and to

have suffered consequent economic disadvantage. Section 8(a)

application also concealed his criminal record for assault.

Company received $1 million in Federal contracts due to

president’s fraudulent representations. *

President and

corporation

both charged

FBI,

DOL/OIG
40 Semiannual Report September 2001

State Program Alleged Violation(s) Prosecuted Arrested/

Indicted/

Convicted/

Investigated

Jointly

With. . .

 NC 8aBD General contractor and its president charged with submitting falsely

certified payment requests under various Section 8(a) contracts

from Army, Navy, Postal Service, and Department of Veterans

Affairs. To induce disbursements of contract funds, falsely

certified requests stated that all subcontractors and vendors had

been paid. Through fraudulent statements, defendants diverted over

$900,000 that was due subcontractors and suppliers. Government

lost additional $700,000 by having to re-procure completion of

several contracts left incomplete by business, which SBA

terminated from Section 8(a) program. *

President and

corporation

both indicted

Army

 NM DL Using name and SSN of deceased acquaintance, woman obtained

post-disaster assistance, including $40,000 SBA home loan;

submitted numerous false documents; also attempted to obtain

information about claim and investigation by posing as

representative of U.S. Attorney’s Office. Neither she nor deceased

acquaintance ever resided at address claimed in disaster-assistance

application. Subsequently charged with additional counts of mail

fraud, wire fraud, and impersonation. *

Superseding

indictment of

woman

FEMA/OIG

 NV DL To obtain $213,600 disaster home loan, man claimed he was

employed 10 months and earned $60,000; actually, he was

employed for 3 months and earned only $2,060. *

Man pled

guilty

State attorney

general

 NY SBIC President of SBIC charged with: improperly negotiating for his

personal use $84,400 in checks drawn on SBIC’s bank account;

causing illegal transfer of parcel of real estate valued at $363,613

from SBIC without consideration to second company he solely

owned; causing illegal transfer of property valued at $361,296 from

SBIC without consideration to third company he owned;

improperly causing $33,869 in loan payments from borrower to be

diverted from SBIC to his solely owned company and later

converted to his own use; and illegally causing $119,096 in loan

payments from another borrower to be diverted to his solely owned

company and converted to his own use. His actions forced SBA to

liquidate SBIC. *

President

indicted and

pled guilty

None

 NY DL Caretaker for mentally ill assisted elderly woman including

managing her disaster loan application submission when hurricane

damaged her home. He was arrested on charge of submitting

altered invoices for work purportedly performed on her home; some

were actually for work on properties he owned. His alleged false

statements led to $78,300 being loaned to elderly woman. He

personally used much of loan proceeds to pay for repairs at his

residences and to pay down debts.

Caretaker

arrested

FBI

 OH BL Pet store president obtained $100,000 LowDoc loan. During

application process, he concealed about $200,000 in debt and

information regarding his criminal history. Prior to applying for

SBA loan, he had been arrested on multiple offenses, charged with

various crimes, and convicted of felony of carrying concealed

weapon. *

President

indicted

None
Semiannual Report September 2001 41

State Program Alleged Violation(s) Prosecuted Arrested/

Indicted/

Convicted/

Investigated

Jointly

With. . .

 TX BL President of brake parts company created fraudulent invoices

showing inventory of business as being sold when, in fact,

merchandise was still in his possession. He then filed for both

personal and corporate bankruptcy while using company’s

inventory to start second company. He and his wife executed

scheme by “check-kiting” assets through numerous accounts. SBA

loans obtained by them totaled $500,000. *

President and

wife both

indicted

FBI

 TX BL To obtain $258,000 SBA-guaranteed loan (purportedly for purchase

of restaurant), buyer and seller submitted six falsified copies of tax

returns, three fraudulent tax return verifications, and numerous

other fraudulent documents in support of loan application and

$62,500 capital injection. *

Both men

indicted

TIGTA

 TX BL To facilitate $355,000 and $200,000 SBA-guaranteed loans for her

gas station clients, CPA/SBA-loan packager falsified 15 Federal tax

returns, 9 IRS tax verifications, and numerous other documents

(including required capital injections into businesses). *

Packager pled

guilty

TIGTA

 TX BL To obtain $156,000 SBA-guaranteed loan, owner of auto service

center submitted 3 years of falsified tax returns and IRS tax return

verifications, along with fraudulent documentation of required

capital injections and equipment purchases. Loan proceeds were

used for personal expenditures. *

Owner

convicted

TIGTA

 VA BL Chiropractor submitted false equipment invoices and false building

lease in support of his application for SBA-guaranteed loan of

$337,000 to purchase equipment. Upon receiving two-payee

disbursement checks for loan, he forged endorsement of equipment

company and deposited checks into his personal account. He

subsequently defaulted on $136,617 loan balance. *

Chiropractor

charged and

pled guilty

FBI

* This case is further discussed in the narrative section of this report.

Program codes: BL=business loans, DL=disaster loans, 8aBD=Section 8(a) business development, SBG=surety bond

guaranties, SBIC=small business investment companies

Joint-investigation Federal agency acronyms: DOL/OIG=Labor Department OIG; FBI=Federal Bureau of Investigation;

FEMA/OIG=Federal Emergency Management Agency OIG; PWBA=Pension & Welfare Benefits Administration;

TIGTA=Treasury Department Tax Administration OIG; USCS=Customs Service
42 Semiannual Report September 2001

APPENDIX IV

Six Month Sentencing Summary

State Program Alleged Violation(s) Prosecuted Confinement Time and

Dollar Results

(Criminal

Restitution/Fines/Etc.)

Investigated

Jointly

With. . .

 CA BL SBA-loan broker caused submission of false tax returns in

support of $2.46 million in SBA-guaranteed loan

applications and failed to report brokerage’s gross receipts

for 2 years. *

1 month incarceration,

$388,300 restitution

FBI, IRS

 LA DL Application for $325,600 disaster failed to disclose

applicants’ (seafood company and its president) criminal

records. *

Corporation: $4,500 fine None

 MD BL On documents to obtain $260,000 SBA-guaranteed loan,

listed name/date of birth/SSN of son in place of own; also

failed to disclose he owed approximately $3 million to IRS

and others.*

1 year + 1 day

incarceration

None

 MI BL Businessman submitted false information to bank to obtain

disbursement totaling over $386,000 on his SBAguaranteed line of credit loan.

1 day incarceration,

$136,516 restitution

USSS

 MO BL To receive $98,235 SBA-guaranteed loan, president of

defunct dry cleaners made numerous false statements,

including providing false tax return for business; also used

false SSNs and false tax returns to obtain five personal

loans, resulting in total lender losses of about $197,000. *

18 months in prison,

$197,027 restitution

USSS,

SSA/OIG, PIS

 MS DL Assistant minister of church that received $257,600

disaster loan to repair hurricane damage misappropriated

$75,000 of loan proceeds; submitted numerous false

invoices to SBA in support of request for loan

disbursements.

6 months home

confinement, $20,928

restitution

None

 NY BL Photo studio owner in applying for $260,000 SBAguaranteed loan, lied to conceal that: 1) he had been

convicted of alien smuggling and was Federal fugitive;

and 2) he was resident alien facing deportation

proceedings. *

2 years in prison, $250,000

restitution

SSA/OIG

 NY SBIC SBIC president embezzled and misapplied its funds,

causing SBIC to overpay, to advantage of two private

companies affiliated with him, $71,176 more than rightful

rent obligations at site they jointly occupied; delayed

SBA's seizure of control of SBIC and significantly

contributed to Agency’s loss of more than $2.2 million. *

8 months home

confinement, $3,000

restitution

FBI

 OH BL Four individuals formed conspiracy to defraud

Government, devised by licensed real estate

agent/business broker to facilitate $325,000 SBAguaranteed loan for purchase of forklift sales/repair

business; fraudulently provided funds for required capital

injection prior to loan closing; inflated contract sales price;

concealed transfer of funds between defendants. One

defendant concealed his substantial criminal history. *

Broker: convicted

Buyer: pled guilty, 4

months home confinement,

$46,500 restitution

One seller: pled guilty, 4

months home confinement,

$107,250 restitution

Other seller: charge

dismissed

None
Semiannual Report September 2001 43

State Program Alleged Violation(s) Prosecuted Confinement Time and

Dollar Results

(Criminal

Restitution/Fines/Etc.)

Investigated

Jointly

With. . .

 PA 8aBD Construction corporation and president and vice president

conspired to improperly obtain 8(a) contracts; VP also

denied in SBA 8(a) application that he had criminal

history; in fact, he had seven prior arrests and three

convictions. President represented his assets at $40,000 to

SBA on same day he represented his assets at over $1.6

million to bonding company. *

Vice president: 33 months

in prison

President: 1 year + 1 day

incarceration

Corporation: $5,600 fine

All three defendants

jointly: $1,987,924

restitution

USDA/OIG,

DOL/OIG,

Navy, Army,

DCIS

 VI BL To obtain $432,000 SBA-guaranteed loan, construction

executive submitted documents listing $420,000 as value

of machinery to be purchased with loan funds, when actual

cost of machinery was only $120,000. *

18 months in prison,

$420,000 restitution

FBI

* This case is further discussed in the narrative section of this report.

Program codes: BL=business loans, DL=disaster loans, 8aBD=Section 8(a) business development, SBIC=small business

investment companies

Joint-investigation Federal agency acronyms: DCIS=Defense Criminal Investigative Service; DOL/OIG=Labor Department

OIG; FBI=Federal Bureau of Investigation; IRS=Internal Revenue Service; PIS=Postal Inspection Service; SSA/OIG=Social

Security Administration OIG; USDA/OIG=Agriculture Department OIG; USSS=Secret Service

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

To promote integrity, economy, and efficiency, we encourage

you to report instances of fraud, waste, or mismanagement to the

SBA OIG FRAUD LINE.*

CALL

1-800-767-0385 (Toll Free)

202-205-7151 (Washington, DC, Area)

Write or Visit

U.S. Small Business Administration

Office of Inspector General

Investigations Division

409 Third Street, SW. (5th Floor)

Washington, DC 20416

Or E-mail Us At OIG@SBA.GOV

 *Upon request your name will be held in confidence.