Callaway County business owner sentenced 18 months in federal fraud cause

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Kingdom City business owner who pleaded guilty last year to a federal fraud charge was sentenced on Monday to 18 months in prison without parole.

Scott Allen Maples, 40, was also ordered to pay $684,034 in restitution to the Small Business Administration.

Maples admitted to fraudulently receiving Paycheck Protection Program loans for several businesses. The program was approved by Congress to provide businesses with money to pay their employees during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Maples applied using inaccurate and exaggerated payroll expenses and altered bank statements and tax forms, the U.S. attorney’s office says. The loans totaled $673,127.