Callaway County business owner pleads guilty to coronavirus fund fraud

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Kingdom City business owner pleaded guilty Tuesday to defrauding the government of nearly $700,000 in coronavirus relief money.

Scott A. Maples, 39, pleaded guilty in federal court in Jefferson City to one count of bank fraud, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Missouri said in a news release. He waived his right to a grand jury, according to the release.

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. Maples has been ordered to forfeit that money to the federal government, according to the release.

Maples tried to get another $30,000 through a different loan program but was not awarded the loan, the release says.

A sentencing hearing will be scheduled later. Maples is facing up to 30 years in federal prison without parole.