2 Peoria residents federally indicted for fraud related to COVID-19 relief, unemployment insurance

PEORIA (25News Now) - 2 Peoria residents were federally indicted by a grand jury Tuesday - charged with fraudulently obtaining pandemic-related and unemployment benefits through the Paycheck Protection Program.

Andre Johnson, 25, was charged with three counts of wire fraud and one count of making a false statement. The indictment alleges the offenses occurred from May 2020 through September 2021 in Peoria County.

Shon Smith, 33, was charged with one count of mail fraud, one count of wire fraud, and one count of making a false statement. The indictment alleges the offenses occurred from June 2020 through June 2021 in Peoria County.

Johnson and Smith have been issued a summons to appear for arraignment on April 12, according to a Department of Justice release.

If convicted, the maximum statutory penalty for each offense of wire fraud or mail fraud is 20 years’ imprisonment, a three-year term of supervised release, and restitution. The statutory maximum penalty for making a false statement is five years’ imprisonment, a three-year term of supervised release, and restitution.

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