Atlanta prosecutor jailed for $15 million Covid fraud given to DA Fani Willis while she splurged on diamonds and Rolls Royce

The former Atlanta deputy city attorney who was jailed for defrauding the federal government out of $15 million in COVID relief loans also donated to the local prosecutor.

Shelitha Robertson, 62, donated $1,000 to Fani Willis’ Democratic primary campaign at the same time she received the massive payments – obtained after reporting inflated businesses to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). ), according to the documents filed.

A few years later, the Georgia jurist would accuse former President Donald Trump of racketeering following a 13-count indictment accusing him of trying to illegally overturn the 2020 election.

Trump is one of 19 charged in the sprawling case, which was halted Wednesday following Robertson’s arrest.

Also a life advice podcaster, Robertson used small business funds to buy a 10-carat diamond ring, a Rolls Royce and a motorcycle, while Trump, 77, continues to deny any wrongdoing.

Additionally, the donation was made on May 22, 2020, less than two months before the frenzied rollout of the PPP program.

At that time, Robertson – who has remained on bail since pleading not guilty to all five fraud charges in December 2022 – claimed she needed money to support four businesses she owned.

The request was granted, even though she falsely claimed she managed a staff of more than 400 people, meaning she was entitled to millions of dollars in emergency aid.

In reality, she falsely inflated those figures and monthly salaries with false tax documentation, Fed said at her sentencing.

There, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan criticized Robertson for his actions, citing his pedigree as a former Atlanta police officer and city attorney.

“Motivated by greed, Robertson deceptively obtained funds intended to provide emergency financial assistance to struggling small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said of the fraudster, who was also a successful businesswoman.

“Today, the defendant in this case was held accountable for fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars through the Paycheck Protection Program and using those stolen funds to enrich herself, while small companies were in trouble,” added Kyle A. Myles, federal special agent in charge. Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General, Atlanta Region (FDIC OIG).

“The FDIC OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to pursue and bring to justice those who have taken advantage of these pandemic relief programs and threatened the integrity of our nation’s financial institutions. ”

He then described how Robertson and his confirmed accomplice Chandra Norton submitted fraudulent applications on behalf of four companies that Robertson actually owned, resulting in $7,020,779 in PPP funds being deposited into his bank accounts.

Robertson then used the proceeds for his personal gain, he said – citing purchases of luxury items like a 10-carat diamond ring and the transfer of funds to family members and Norton, reports said. authorities.

Rolls and other items were also purchased, and officials traced three wire transfers made in May 2020 alone.

They amounted to more than $5 million, a third of the scandalous sum obtained by Robertson and his co-conspirators.

It’s not yet clear whether Willis — the Fulton County prosecutor — will be included in that class ultimately, as officials examine the extent of their relationship.

In the meantime, Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee told the court last week that the case would be stayed indefinitely — until a panel of judges rules on Willis’ disqualification.

After receiving Robertson’s donation, Willis defeated his boss — who was also plagued by scandal — as longtime prosecutor Paul Howard following a contentious Democratic primary and runoff in August 2020.

As for Robertson, she was sentenced Friday to 849 days in jail, with 637 days of credit served and 212 days of good time credit.

This equates to a sentence of approximately seven years, after which she will also be on probation for 44 months.

She served as an assistant city attorney in Atlanta in the early 2000s, after working as a police officer for more than a decade.

She went on to complete law school and start several successful businesses.

Among them was his influential daughter’s podcast “Mommy and Me,” in which the two discussed “overcoming life’s challenges” and gave advice.

In an October 2023 segment billed ironically as “integrity over dollars,” Robertson advised his followers to “follow the dream” because “the money will come.”

“When you have a passion for something you love, you can do it for free. Never chase money,” she says in the resurfaced clip.

“The money will come. Pursue your passion, pursue your dream. The money will come.

Her daughter, Brii Renee, posted a heartfelt tribute to her mother just a few weeks ago – long after the fraud allegations came to light and the evidence against her mounted.

“I wouldn’t be who I am today without this amazing mother, like, scammer, that you are!” she wrote at the time, sharing the post with her more than 600,000 Instagram followers.

“Thank you for every sacrifice you have made and every dream you have pushed me to achieve! »

Months earlier, a federal jury found Robertson guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and money laundering — the same charges that earned her a conviction Friday.

There, in Georgia’s Northern District Court, Robertson broke down in tears upon learning she would spend the next seven years behind bars.

She told the court she was “completely broke” and her “stuff was gone”.

“My (law) license is gone. My belongings are missing. she continued. The only thing I have left is my family and my faith in God,” she said.

Robertson will get credit for the six months she has spent in custody since December, which, along with credits for good behavior, will allow her to reduce her sentence by 20 months.

Willis’ office has not yet commented on the conviction or donation, which was first reported Sunday by the New York Post.

In the meantime, Robertson’s sentencing is already underway.