PPP fraud case sees ex-Chicago Public Schools exec charged with defrauding pandemic relief programs
<p>A former top Chicago Public School official was charged with ripping off two pandemic relief programs, nearly three years after the school system found she had lied about her income in order to receive loans.</p><p>Crystal Cooper, the district’s former Chief Operating Officer, was among at least 14 CPS staffers who quit in 2023 after the district's inspector general uncovered they had <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/9/6/23860469/ppp-payroll-protection-program-cps-will-fletcher-crystal-cooper" target="_blank" >falsified information on applications</a> for federal Paycheck Protection Program loans. </p><p>This May, Cooper was charged with three counts of wire fraud, according to a recently unsealed federal indictment.</p><p>Beginning in June 2020, Cooper applied for two federal loans through the PPP and Economic Injury Disaster Loan programs, according to the indictment.
Reported by 1 outlet — Chicago Sun-Times. See all sources ↓
<p>A former top Chicago Public School official was charged with ripping off two pandemic relief programs, nearly three years after the school system found she had lied about her income in order to receive loans.</p><p>Crystal Cooper, the district’s former Chief Operating Officer, was among at least 14 CPS staffers who quit in 2023 after the district's inspector general uncovered they had <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/9/6/23860469/ppp-payroll-protection-program-cps-will-fletcher-crystal-cooper" target="_blank" >falsified information on applications</a> for federal Paycheck Protection Program loans. </p><p>This May, Cooper was charged with three counts of wire fraud, according to a recently unsealed federal indictment.</p><p>Beginning in June 2020, Cooper applied for two federal loans through the PPP and Economic Injury Disaster Loan programs, according to the indictment. Those programs were intended to help small businesses survive the pandemic, but they were <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/coronavirus/2023/10/13/23915892/covid-relief-loans-ppp-fraud-chicago-city-hall-watchdog" target="_blank" >overrun with fraud</a>.</p><p>Cooper is accused of lying about her income and the revenue she received from a side business that she’d never disclosed to CPS. She ultimately received over $28,000 in loans that she tapped for “her personal use and benefit,” according to the indictment.
Read the full report at Chicago Sun-Times ↗
Why it matters
A world story we're tracking; its significance and source trust firm up as more outlets confirm it.
- What's the story?
- <p>A former top Chicago Public School official was charged with ripping off two pandemic relief programs, nearly three years after the school system found she had lied about her income in order to receive loans.</p><p>Crystal Cooper, the district’s former Chief Operating Officer, was among at least 14 CPS staffers who quit in 2023 after the district's inspector general uncovered they had <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/9/6/23860469/ppp-payroll-protection-program-cps-will-fletcher-crystal-cooper" target="_blank" >falsified information on applications</a> for federal Paycheck Protection Program loans. </p><p>This May, Cooper was charged with three counts of wire fraud, according to a recently unsealed federal indictment.</p><p>Beginning in June 2020, Cooper applied for two federal loans through the PPP and Economic Injury Disaster Loan programs, according to the indictment.
- How widely is it covered?
- 1 outlet, average source rating 6.0/10.
- When was it last updated?
- 12m ago.
How outlets are framing the same story
Here's how each outlet is covering the story — compare their headlines and timing at a glance.
- Coverage card1 outlet1CoverageScouting report
PPP fraud case sees ex-Chicago Public Schools exec charged with defrauding pandemic relief programs
Sources1TypeCoverageChicago Sun-Times