Harper Woods Man Convicted of Defrauding CERA Funds, PPP Loans
Summary
Roy Lee Holt, 58, of Harper Woods, was convicted by a Wayne County jury on April 22, 2026, of multiple felony charges for fraudulently obtaining more than $60,000 in COVID-19 relief funds and Paycheck Protection Program loans. Holt submitted fraudulent bank statements and other false representations to obtain two PPP loans totaling over $41,000, and received $19,880 in COVID Emergency Rental Assistance funds through falsified documentation submitted to MSHDA. Sentencing is scheduled for May 20 before Judge Kiefer Cox in Wayne County Circuit Court.
“Roy Lee Holt, 58, of Harper Woods, was convicted by a Wayne County jury on April 22 of multiple felony charges for fraudulently obtaining more than $60,000 in COVID-19 relief funds and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans”
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Roy Lee Holt was convicted of multiple felony charges for fraudulently obtaining over $60,000 in COVID-19 relief funds and PPP loans. He submitted fraudulent bank statements to obtain two PPP loans totaling over $41,000, and received $19,880 in CERA funds through falsified documentation. The conviction reflects continued enforcement of COVID relief fraud by the Michigan Attorney General in collaboration with the VA OIG and MSHDA, demonstrating that fraudulent claims against government assistance programs will be prosecuted.
Organizations administering or participating in government assistance programs should ensure robust verification of applicant documentation and report suspected fraud. The case involved coordination between the Michigan AG, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, and MSHDA, illustrating interagency cooperation in pursuing fraud against government programs.
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Apr 25, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Harper Woods Man Convicted of Defrauding CERA Funds, PPP Loans
April 24, 2026
LANSING – Roy Lee Holt, 58, of Harper Woods, was convicted by a Wayne County jury on April 22 of multiple felony charges for fraudulently obtaining more than $60,000 in COVID-19 relief funds and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Holt was found guilty of:
- Two counts of False Pretenses $20,000-$50,000, each a 15-year felony;
- One count of False Pretense $1,000-$20,000, a 5-year felony;
- Two counts of Using a Computer to Commit a Crime, each a 10-year felony; and
- One Count of Making/Permitting a False Tax Return, a 5-year felony. To obtain two PPP loans in 2021, Holt submitted a fraudulent bank statement and made other false representations regarding his business operations. He also submitted additional fraudulent misrepresentations to have those loans forgiven. Each PPP loan Holt received was for $20,832 totaling over $41,000.
Holt also received $19,880 in COVID Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA) funds after submitting falsified and altered documentation to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA). The CERA program, administered by MSHDA, was designed to support Michigan residents struggling with rent and utilities due to pandemic-related financial hardships.
At the time this fraud was committed, Holt was a Veterans Affairs employee. The Attorney General's enforcement operation was conducted in close collaboration with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General (VA OIG) and MSHDA.
“Those who defraud these programs cheat taxpayers out of their hard-earned money and strip resources away from those truly in need,” said Attorney General Nessel. “I am grateful to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, MSHDA, and the prosecutors in my office who secured this conviction. We will continue to prosecute those who exploit government aid programs.”
“Cases like this are rare, but we take them seriously and pursue them fully,” said Amy Hovey, CEO and Executive Director of MSHDA. “This conviction reflects strong coordination with our state and federal partners to hold bad actors accountable.”
“The VA OIG is dedicated to protecting taxpayer dollars and ensuring the integrity of government assistance programs,” said Special Agent in Charge Gregory Billingsley of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Central Field Office. “We will vigorously investigate any VA employee who attempts to obtain government funds through fraudulent actions. The VA OIG is grateful to the Michigan Attorney General for their efforts in this joint investigation.”
The investigation and prosecution of this case was pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) executed between the Department of Attorney General and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority to investigate and prosecute the fraudulent stealing of housing funds. The MOU is set to expire December 31, 2026 unless renewed by MSHDA.
Holt is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Kiefer Cox in the 3 rd Circuit Court in Wayne County on May 20.
MI Newswire Attorney General Press Release Media Contact:
Danny Wimmer
Press Secretary
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