Two more defendants have entered guilty pleas for their roles in an alleged scheme in San Antonio to rip off a federal program intended to help small businesses.

Uchennaya Ogba of San Antonio and Jonathan Adams of Lawrenceville, Ga., have each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States. The offense carries a penalty of up to five years in prison, up to three years of post-release supervision and a maximum $250,000 fine.

With the pleas, five of the seven defendants who were indicted in the 2023 case have pleaded guilty.

Ogba admitted to fraudulently receiving about $74,000 from the alleged scheme involving the Small Business Administration’s HUBZone program, his plea agreement says. The program is intended to support small-business growth in historically underutilized business zones by awarding federal contracts to companies based in the zones.

Ogba is not a U.S. citizen so his conviction will “likely result” in him being deported after he serves his sentence, U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth “Betsy” Chestney said during a plea hearing last week.

Adams was fraudulently paid $123,104 from various HUBZone companies, his plea agreement says.

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A San Antonio federal grand jury indicted the seven defendants on conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government. The indictment alleges the seven collectively pocketed more than $2 million.

According to Adams’ plea agreement, Aaron Sams, who operated San Antonio-based Sams Contracting Consulting and Training LLC, “created a scheme” where he marketed to HUBZone companies that he had employees who they could use to satisfy the program requirements. Those requirements included that the employees would reside in the HUBZone and perform work for the companies.

Ogba and Adams acted as employees in the alleged scheme, which went on from 2017 through the third quarter of 2022. The pair were required to pay “kickbacks” to Sams representing about 20% of the compensation they received from the companies, their plea agreements say.

Around May or June 2022, the agreements say Sams learned that the SBA was investigating him and that it was sending out letters to various HUBZone companies requesting information.

At Sams’ urging, Ogba and others “performed acts that impeded and impaired the function of federal agencies so that Sams could continue his scheme,” according to Ogba’s plea agreement.

Ogba later “confirmed that he did no work for any HUBZone companies but was just paid free money,” his plea deal adds. “Ogba always thought it was illegal to be receiving money from the companies without doing any work, but Sams told him it was good.”

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Adams told investigators that Sams was his boss and that he would do things for Sams, such as cut the grass or act as a handyman.

“He said numerous times that Sams was helping him out,” his plea agreement says.

Ogba has been free on a $30,000 unsecured bond, while Adams has been free on a $10,000 unsecured bond. Both men are scheduled to be sentenced June 4 by U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia.

Sams and his wife, Beverly Smith of Converse, are the only defendants not to have entered guilty pleas. They are scheduled to go to trial June 22.

Kristin Harrison, Sams’ sister and a Killeen resident, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the government. Her sentencing is set for April 9.

Jesus Rodriguez of San Antonio pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. His sentencing is scheduled for April 30.

Barbara Sanders of San Antonio pleaded guilty to the same charge, which carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Her sentencing is set for May 7.

This article originally published at 2 more defendants strike plea deals in San Antonio over alleged scheme to defraud feds.