LANSING – Roy Lee Holt, 57, of Harper Woods, waived preliminary examination on November 12 and was bound over to stand trial in the 3rd Circuit Court in Wayne County on multiple felony charges for allegedly 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 charged in July with:
- Two counts of False Pretenses $20,000-$50,000, each a 15-year felony;
- One count of False Pretenses $1,000-$20,000, a 5-year felony;
- Two counts of Using a Computer to Commit a Crime, each a 10-year felony; and
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One Count of Making/Permitting a False Tax Return, a 5-year felony.
To obtain two PPP loans in 2021, Holt allegedly submitted a fraudulent bank statement and made other false representations regarding his business operations. He is further accused of submitting additional fraudulent misrepresentations to have those loans forgiven. Each PPP loan Holt received was for $20,832 totaling over $41,000.
Holt also allegedly 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 is alleged to have been committed, Holt was a U.S. 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 and MSHDA.
“I would like to thank the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General and MSHDA for their assistance in this investigation,” Nessel said. “My office looks forward to continuing to pursue this matter in court to ensure those who defraud loan programs intended to help those in need are held accountable.”
“Cases like this are rare, but we will never let them go unchallenged,” said Amy Hovey, CEO and Executive Director of MSHDA. “This investigation reflects the strong collaboration between state and federal partners to ensure that anyone who misuses housing resources, especially CERA funds that were intended for our most vulnerable residents, are brought to justice. Every program dollar we administer is critical to helping end our housing crisis, and MSHDA will continue to pursue these cases wherever they occur to protect the integrity of our work.”
Holt will next appear in the 3rd Circuit Court for his Circuit Court Arraignment on November 26, 2025.
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