Do I need a PPP loan fraud Lawyer in Delaware
You’re in Delaware and you got contacted about your PPP loan from 2020-2021. SBA Office of Inspector General sent a letter. Or FBI agents showed up. You saw the news in April 2025 about the Bear, Delaware woman pleading guilty to PPP fraud. You’re wondering: “Do I need a Delaware lawyer specifically, or can any lawyer handle this?” Thanks for visiting Spodek Law Group – a second generation law firm with over 50 years of combined experience. Our managing partner, Todd Spodek, is a seasoned federal defense attorney who has many, many, years of experience handling PPP fraud cases nationwide, including Delaware federal prosecutions. Todd has been featured on major news outlets like NY Post, Newsweek, and Fox 5, and represented high-profile clients including Anna Delvey and handled juror misconduct allegations in the Ghislaine Maxwell trial. This is federal jurisdiction, not Delaware state court.
Why your Delaware location doesn’t matter in federal PPP prosecution, what kind of lawyer you actually need, and why the April 2025 Bear, Delaware case proves investigations are happening right now.
Delaware Location Doesn’t Matter – This is Federal
You’re in Delaware and federal agents contacted you. First question: “Is this Delaware state court or federal court?” This is federal jurisdiction. PPP was a federal program administered by the SBA. Federal prosecutors investigating PPP fraud don’t care that you’re in Delaware. They don’t care about Delaware’s business-friendly corporate laws. Delaware built its reputation on favorable state corporate law – none of that applies when the federal government comes after you for PPP fraud.
The Bear, Delaware case from April 2025 proves this. Adrienne Ponzo, 50, of Bear, Delaware pleaded guilty to conspiring to obtain more than $1 million in fraudulent PPP and EIDL loans. She prepared fake applications, bank statements, and tax returns for 14 loans totaling $1.5 million. But she wasn’t prosecuted in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. She was prosecuted in the District of New Jersey – because that’s where her co-conspirators operated. Living in Delaware didn’t mean prosecution in Delaware. Federal prosecutors can charge you in any district where the fraud occurred. You could face charges in Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or anywhere your PPP funds were used.
Delaware business owners often think: “Delaware is business-friendly – they’ll understand.” Federal prosecutors investigating PPP fraud don’t care about Delaware’s advantages for forming LLCs. According to DOJ’s April 2025 press release, Ponzo faces sentencing on August 26, 2025. This is happening right now to Delaware residents.
Federal Lawyer Experience Matters More Than Delaware Location
Delaware business owners ask: “Do I need a Delaware-based lawyer or can a lawyer from anywhere handle my federal PPP case?” You need a federal criminal defense lawyer with experience handling federal prosecutors and federal sentencing guidelines. Not Delaware location. Federal experience.
The lawyer doesn’t have to be based in Delaware. PPP fraud is prosecuted under federal statutes – 18 U.S.C. § 1344 (bank fraud), 18 U.S.C. § 1343 (wire fraud), 18 U.S.C. § 1001 (false statements). Federal law applies uniformly across all states.
Your lawyer needs federal criminal defense experience, not Delaware state court experience. Some Delaware lawyers only handle Delaware state court – that won’t help you in federal PPP prosecution. You can hire a federal criminal defense lawyer from New York City, Washington DC, or anywhere who handles federal cases. Spodek Law Group handles federal cases nationwide, including Delaware federal prosecutions. You cannot hire a Delaware corporate lawyer who handles Delaware LLC formation – completely different expertise.
A lawyer familiar with the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware is helpful because they know local federal prosecutors’ practices. But the most important qualification is federal criminal defense experience. Federal sentencing guidelines apply the same way in Delaware as everywhere else. Fraud involving $95,000 to $150,000 results in 21-27 months in federal prison for someone with no criminal history – same in Delaware as everywhere.
Adrienne Ponzo’s case isn’t old news. She pleaded guilty in April 2025 – this year. Her fraud occurred in 2020-2021 when she prepared fraudulent PPP and EIDL applications. Four to five years from fraud to guilty plea. This shows Delaware residents: investigations are ongoing, not winding down. If you received a PPP loan in 2020-2021 and federal agents contact you in 2025, you’re in the same timeline as Ponzo.
What Ponzo did: She conspired with others to defraud the SBA and PPP program. Co-conspirators recruited business owners with companies that had little or no operations. Ponzo prepared the fraudulent applications – inflated payroll numbers, created fake bank statements, fabricated tax returns. She received a portion of the loan proceeds. Fourteen loans, nearly $1.5 million total. Federal prosecutors see this pattern constantly: someone who “helps” other businesses get PPP loans and takes a cut.
She pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud conspiracy. Sentencing is scheduled for August 26, 2025. Wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison. According to federal sentencing guidelines, with $1.5 million loss, she’s looking at significant federal prison time – likely years, not months. The August 2025 sentencing will provide a concrete example of what Delaware residents actually face for PPP fraud.
If you’re reading this because you got contacted about your Delaware PPP loan, Ponzo’s case proves the government is still actively investigating and prosecuting Delaware cases in 2025. Congress extended the statute of limitations for PPP fraud to 10 years. Delaware loans from 2020-2021 can be prosecuted until 2030-2031.
Delaware business owners make this mistake: “I’ll cooperate with the FBI agents. I’m in Delaware, small state, maybe they’ll understand.” Your Delaware location means nothing to federal agents. Not Delaware state court. Federal jurisdiction.
SBA Office of Inspector General agents in Delaware have the same authority as agents anywhere. FBI agents investigating PPP fraud in Delaware follow the same federal procedures as FBI agents in New York or Los Angeles.
When you talk to federal agents without a lawyer, you risk additional federal charges. Even if your PPP application was legitimate, you can get charged with false statements to federal agents under 18 U.S.C. § 1001 if anything you say contains minor inconsistencies. This carries up to 5 years in federal prison. You don’t know what evidence the government already has. Federal agents cross-referenced your PPP application against your IRS quarterly payroll tax returns, your state unemployment insurance records, and your business bank statements before they contacted you.
A Delaware business owner’s PPP application said he had 20 employees. His IRS Form 941 showed payroll for 12 employees. During an FBI interview without a lawyer, the agent asked how many employees. He said “around 18” because he wasn’t sure whether to count part-time workers. That discrepancy – application says 20, IRS shows 12, interview says 18 – becomes evidence of lying. Federal prosecutors use this as proof of fraud.
According to U.S. Sentencing Commission data, 97% of federal prosecutions result in convictions. This applies to Delaware federal cases the same as everywhere. Once you’re indicted in federal court, your options are: plead guilty or go to trial. Only 3% of defendants win at trial. Delaware location doesn’t change these statistics.
With a federal criminal defense lawyer from day one, you have options before charges are filed. Your lawyer contacts federal prosecutors, finds out what evidence they have, and negotiates outcomes that avoid criminal charges: civil settlement where you repay the loan plus penalties but avoid a criminal record, deferred prosecution agreements, or plea to reduced charges with cooperation credit. Most importantly, a federal defense lawyer can convince prosecutors not to file charges at all. This window closes once you’re indicted.
Unlike other law firms who are more focused on their relationship with prosecutors and judges, Spodek Law Group owes loyalty to only you. We’re focused on getting you the possible outcome in your Delaware federal PPP fraud investigation. Every single client who works with us is serious about their future. Our federal criminal defense attorneys handle cases nationwide, including Delaware federal prosecutions. If we’re choosing to work with you, it’s because we think we can make a positive impact on your case.
We’re available 24/7 at 212-300-5196.