Atlanta attorney and former political candidate convicted of pandemic relief fraud 

Atlanta Attorney Shelitha Robertson was convicted last week for defrauding the federal government of over $7 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds. Robertson, 62, who previously served as an assistant city attorney for the City of Atlanta, was found guilty by a federal jury on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud, and one count of money laundering.

The U.S. Department of Justice said Robertson’s charges stem from her submission of false information on PPP loan applications for her four businesses, leading to inflated loan amounts. The investigation into Robertson was conducted by the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, which the Justice Department formed in 2021 to enhance efforts to prevent and combat pandemic-related fraud.

The PPP loans, designed to support small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, became the center of Robertson’s fraudulent activities. Prosecutors revealed that Robertson misappropriated the funds for extravagant purchases, including a Rolls-Royce, a motorcycle, and a $148,000 10-carat diamond ring. Additionally, she allegedly transferred funds to family members and a co-conspirator, Chandra Nelson. Robertson had initially blamed Nelson for the fraudulent loan applications, but Nelson had already pleaded guilty in a separate prosecution.

Robertson now faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for each count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud, and a maximum of 10 years for money laundering. Prosecutors from she also transferred funds to family members and her co-conspirator, Chandra Nelson. Robertson had blamed the fraudulent loan applications on Nelson, her former attorney who pleaded guilty in a separate prosecution.

A frequent Democrat political candidate in Georgia, Robertson’s unsuccessful political endeavors included bids for Fulton County Superior Court Judge in 2014 and 2010, as well as an Atlanta City Council seat in 2009. She most recently lost in the special election for State House District 55. In addition to being an assistant city attorney for the City of Atlanta, she had been an Atlanta Police Officer for ten years. 

Robertson had been out on bond since pleading not guilty to the charges in December 2022. After the guilty verdict, she was remanded into custody pending her sentencing. Robertson is scheduled to be sentenced on April 11, 2024.