U.S. Department
of Justice
United States v. Brandon Lewis (Lewis Revenue Group, LLC.)
CLOSED CRIMINAL DIVISION CASES
United States v. Brandon Lewis (Lewis Revenue Group, LLC.)
Court Docket No.: 20-CR-336 (M.D. North Carolina)
Court Assigned: This case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Eagles, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, L. Richardson Preyer Courthouse, 324 W. Market Street, Greensboro, NC 27401.
Latest Update: The Department of Justice is in the process of contacting victims’ card carriers who may have issued reimbursements to their clients, making them potentially eligible to submit a claim associated with this scheme. In order to confirm their eligibility, many card carriers have asked us to provide them with their affected client’s name and/or credit card number so that they can verify the transactions. We will presume that you do not object to our sharing this information with your card carrier if you do not submit your objection in writing to us at victimassistance.fraud@usdoj.gov by May 28, 2021. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at victimassistance.fraud@usdoj.gov.
Lewis pleaded guilty to a criminal information on August 31, 2020 charging two counts of wire fraud and one count of making false statements.
Next Proceeding: The deadline for the final order of restitution in the Lewis matter has been set for June 21, 2021.
Overview: Brandon Lewis, 34, of Greensboro, North Carolina, was charged in a criminal information, filed on August 31, 2020, in the Middle District of North Carolina, with two counts of wire fraud and one count of making false statements. The charges stem from the defendant’s role in perpetrating three schemes between March and July 2020 connected to the COVID-19 pandemic, through which he defrauded small business owners, consumers, and the federal government. During this time, Lewis defrauded small business owners of more than $100,000 by promising “guaranteed funds” in exchange for an upfront “reservation” fee. In reality, Lewis never had or distributed any funds through either of the fraudulent “relief funds” he claimed to have established. In addition, Lewis created a fake online store, “Home Kitchen Goods,” that claimed to sell pandemic-critical goods such as hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, paper towels, and toilet paper. Between March 20 and March 24, 2020, Lewis received over 8,500 orders totaling more than $400,000. However, Lewis never had or delivered any of the promised goods. Finally, Lewis admitted that between April 1 and June 19, 2020 he lied to the SBA by fraudulently applying for and obtaining multiple loans and advances under the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. To support these applications, Lewis falsely certified to the SBA, among other things, that he had twelve employees and gross revenues for the 12-month period preceding the disaster of around $25,000, which he did not. Lewis received approximately $35,000 from the SBA before additional fund disbursements were blocked by federal law enforcement.
For more information about the charges in this case, please see below:
Criminal Information
Plea Agreement
Press Release - Guilty Plea
Press Release - Sentencing Outcome
Victim Impact Statement: If you would like to submit a Victim Impact Statement, you may do so by mailing the Victim Impact Statement below (or a letter to the court) to: Victim Witness Unit, U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Fraud Section, 10th & Constitution Avenue, NW, Bond Building, Room 4416, Washington, DC 20530. You also may submit the Victim Impact Statement via email at Victimassistance.fraud@usdoj.gov or by fax at: (202) 514-3708. Please note that during the Department’s period of telework in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, responses to faxes may be significantly delayed.
The information on this website will be updated as new developments arise in the case. If you have any questions, please call the Victim Assistance Line toll-free at (888) 549-3945 or email us at VictimAssistance.fraud@usdoj.gov.
Crime Victims’ Rights Act and Right to Retain Counsel: The Crime Victims’ Rights Act (18 U.S.C. § 3771) applies only to victims of the counts charged in federal court, and thus individuals may not be able to exercise all of these rights if the crime of which the individual is a victim was not charged. Section 377I(c)(2) of this Act requires that we advise you that you have the right to retain counsel. Although the statute specifically sets forth your right to seek advice of an attorney with regard to your rights under the statute, there is no requirement that you retain counsel. The Government may not recommend any specific counsel, nor can the government (or the court) pay for counsel to represent you. Government attorneys represent the United States.
If you elect to obtain counsel to represent your interests, please have your attorney notify this office in writing at: U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Fraud Section, 10th & Constitution Avenue, NW, Bond Building, 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20530, Attention: Victim Witness Unit; fax: (202) 514-3708; or email: VictimAssistance.fraud@usdoj.gov. If you elect not to retain counsel to represent your interests, you do not need to do anything.