Dommonick Chatman the CEO of The Chatman Group LLC

By Jillian Pikora From Daily Voice

A Pennsylvania tax prep CEO has pleaded guilty in a federal case involving fraudulent pandemic relief loans, prosecutors announced on Thursday, Dec. 11.

Dommonick T. Chatman, 50, of York, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Malachy E. Mannion to one count of bank fraud tied to false Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications filed through his company, The Chatman Group LLC, according to U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller.

Chatman admitted that over several months in 2021, he either prepared or approved fraudulent PPP loan applications for nearly 20 individuals. The applications sought more than $400,000 in total, with approximately $341,438.82 ultimately paid out by lenders, federal prosecutors said.

According to the plea, many of the applicants either did not have businesses in operation as required under PPP rules or lacked the income needed to qualify for the loan amounts requested. Chatman acknowledged that he had personally prepared tax returns for many of the applicants and knew the information submitted was false.

Prosecutors said Chatman received about 5% of each loan—roughly $1,000 per application—and shared proceeds with employees who assisted in processing the paperwork.

Chatman also admitted to obstructing the investigation by disposing of a handwritten list identifying clients who received PPP loans through his company.

As part of the plea agreement, Chatman agreed to pay $341,438.82 in restitution to the U.S. government.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ravi Romel Sharma and K. Wesley Mishoe are prosecuting.

Chatman faces up to 30 years in prison when sentenced under federal guidelines.