The Pro Trump News homepage has 60 new headings every 24 hours. Click here to check.
The husband of former Democrat, Kori Bush, has been charged with wire fraud.
In a statement, DOJ said: “Kottney Meritz was charged today by federal charges as it allegedly could raise more than $20,000 in the PayCheck Protection Program of the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) and PayCheck Protection Program (PPP) in two wire frauds allegedly filed fraudulent applications with small business managers in 2020 and 2021,” he said.
The husband of former House Representative Kori Bush (D) has been charged with a wire fraud that allegedly fraudulent tens of thousands of dollars of government by lying about supporting business with 10 employees through the PPP program. pic.twitter.com/bawogftymx
– ag (@aghamilton29) March 20, 2025
Press release from Justice.gov:
WASHINGTON – Courtney Meritz, 46, of St. Louis, Missouri, was charged today by federal charges in two counts of fraudulent fraudulent applications with small business managers in 2020 and 2021 by federal charges in two counts of fraudulent fraudulent claims that allow government funds to raise more than $20,000 under the Economic Injury and Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) and PayCheck Protection Program (PPP).
The indictment is the FBI special agent for U.S. Attorney Edward Martin Jr., Special Agent Officer, General Amaleka McCall Brathwaite Bureau (SBA) office, and Sean Ryan, Criminal Detectives and Cyber division of the Washington Field Office.
According to the indictment, on July 7, 2020, Meritz received a $8,500 EIDL loan from the SBA for a moving business he called a reviewed courier he ran. In an application he submitted to a reviewed courier, Merritz identified his business as having six employees and generating gross revenues of $32,000 between January 30, 2019 and January 30, 2020.
On July 8, 2020, Meritz filed another application for an EIDL loan with the SBA in the name of a sole owner called “Kottney Meritz.” In this EIDL application, Merritts fraudulently claimed a business that employed 10 people between January 30, 2019 and January 30, 2020, generating gross revenue of $53,000. The SBA rejected attempts to acquire additional EIDL funds for Merritz after determining that the July 2020 application was roughly the same as the previous application he filed.
The indictment further alleges that on April 22, 2021, Meritz applied for a PPP loan under the name of a sole ownership known as “Koteany Meritz.” In this application, Merritts fraudulently claimed that he created the business in 2020 and generated gross revenue in the year. Based on Meritz's gross income statement, Meritz received a $20,832 PPP loan. Meritz used the proceeds for his personal profits and enjoyment. In July 2022, Meritz filed a loan allowance application that incorrectly claimed that the business had 10 employees at the time of the PPP loan and had spent $20,832 on salary expenses. Based on Merritts' allegedly misrepresented, the SBA has allowed the PPP loan at $20,832 and $254.03 with interest of $254.03.
The case is being investigated by the Inspector's Office of Small Business Administration and the FBI Washington Field Office. It is being charged by Assistant Joshua Rothstein and Special Assistant US Aide Rami Shivey.
The indictment is merely a complaint. All defendants are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in court beyond reasonable doubt.
Dem Rep. Cori Bush lost in last year's primary.
Bush represented St. Louis last year before she suffered a major loss that denounced Jews. She was a member of the far left “squad” including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., New York) and Rashida Tribe (D., Michigan). She refused to call Hamas to a terrorist group and was one of two House members who opposed a resolution banning Hamas terrorists from entering the United States.
The indictment comes about a year after DOJ began investigating Bush about another challenge: Bush's campaign payments to Meritz.
Bush has used the Congressional Campaign budget to pay more than $812,000 for suspicious private security services. She paid her husband over $150,000.
advertisement
