PEARL, Miss. (WJTV) – A Pearl woman pled guilty to carrying out a scheme to defraud the COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

According to court documents, Robbie Reese, 46, fraudulently claimed and received more than $1.3 million in federal tax rebates and PPP funds. Prosecutors said Reese submitted false Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax forms claiming reimbursement for payments to nonexistent employees and false loan documents for PPP loans.

Reese is scheduled to be sentenced on November 7, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

The IRS Criminal Investigation and the Secret Service are investigating the case.