JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A former Jacksonville church pastor has been indicted on federal wire fraud charges tied to an alleged scheme involving COVID-era small business relief funds, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors say Marcus Eichelberger, 46, faces four counts of wire fraud related to Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans issued through the Small Business Administration. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in federal prison on each count.
According to the indictment, Eichelberger allegedly worked with another individual between March 2021 and February 2022 to submit fraudulent PPP loan applications for businesses that were not eligible to receive the funds. The applications reportedly certified that the money would be used for payroll and legitimate business expenses.
Authorities allege that once the loans were approved, the funds were instead kept for personal use. Prosecutors also claim the pair later sought forgiveness for the loans, resulting in an estimated $50,000 loss to the federal government.
U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe said the case reflects ongoing efforts to crack down on fraud involving taxpayer-funded relief programs. Investigators from the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, working alongside other federal partners, uncovered the alleged scheme.
Officials said the investigation also identified a connection between the pastor and a Department of Veterans Affairs employee involved in the case.
The case will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelli Swaney. Federal officials emphasized that an indictment is only a formal charge and that Eichelberger is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
