A Celina husband and wife pleaded guilty to stealing $697,000 in federal pandemic relief loans meant for small businesses.

Craig Bennett, 51, and Chemika Bennett, 53, each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Texas announced on Monday, Sept. 14. The couple applied for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans under their own names and under business names, claiming the money would cover payroll and business expenses.

Federal prosecutors said the Bennetts had no employees and no business expenses. The loan money went to personal spending.

The pleas were part of Operation No Doze, a national enforcement sweep led by the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Fraud Division and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Between Friday, June 12, and Tuesday, Sept. 1, federal prosecutors across the country brought fraud enforcement actions involving more than 160 defendants and roughly $245 million in intended losses to taxpayers, according to the DOJ.

Forty U.S. Attorney's Offices, including three in Texas, worked with 20 federal and state investigative agencies on the effort, Texas Scorecard reported. The SBA Office of Inspector General and the FBI investigated the Bennett case.

Jay R. Combs, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, said in a statement that his office would spare no effort to recover the money. He said PPP funds were meant to keep small businesses alive, not to fund the personal lifestyles of people who exploited the programs.

Three defendants in the Eastern District have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Two others are set for trial, according to the DOJ. Across all three Texas districts, the DOJ Fraud Division reported at least $15.4 million in losses to taxpayers.

Attorney General Todd Blanche said on X on Sept. 15 that the results came from the DOJ Fraud Division, the SBA and dozens of U.S. Attorney's Offices working together during what he called a "summer surge."

The Bennetts face up to 20 years in federal prison. They are scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday, Nov. 10, in Sherman. Residents can report suspected COVID loan fraud to the SBA Office of Inspector General at 800-767-0385.