REVEALED: Atlanta prosecutor jailed for $15m Covid fraud donated to DA Fani Willis as she splurged on diamonds and a Rolls Royce
Atlanta’s ex-assistant city attorney, who was jailed for defrauding the federal government of $15 million in COVID relief loans, also made a donation to the local district attorney.
Shelitha Robertson, 62, donated $1,000 to Fani Willis’ Democratic primary campaign around the time she received the huge payouts — obtained after reporting bloated companies to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the documents show.
A few years later, the Georgia lawyer would sue former President Donald Trump for racketeering after 13 counts accused him of attempting to illegally overturn the 2020 election.
Trump is one of 19 people charged in the sprawling case, which was dropped on Wednesday following Robertson’s arrest.
Robertson, also a life advice podcaster, used the money intended for small businesses to buy a 10-carat diamond ring, a Rolls Royce and a motorcycle, while 77-year-old Trump continues to deny any wrongdoing.
Shelitha Robertson, the former assistant city attorney of Atlanta, jailed for defrauding the federal government of $15 million, soon after made a donation to local district attorney Fani Willis.
Moreover, the donation was distributed on May 22, 2020, less than two months before the PPP program was frantically rolled out.
Around that time, Robertson – who has remained on bond since pleading not guilty to the five fraud charges in December 2022 – claimed she needed the money to support four companies she owned.
The request was granted even though she falsely claimed she was managing a workforce of more than 400 people, meaning she was entitled to millions in emergency benefits.
In reality, she falsely inflated these figures and monthly payrolls with false supporting tax documents, Fed said at her sentencing.
There, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan excoriated Robertson for her actions, citing her pedigree as a former police officer and attorney for the city of Atlanta.
“Motivated by greed, Robertson fraudulently obtained funds intended to provide emergency financial relief to struggling small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said of the fraudster, who was also a successful businesswoman.
“Today, the defendant in this case was held responsible for fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars through the Paycheck Protection Program and using that stolen money to enrich himself while small businesses struggled,” added Kyle A. Myles, special agent in charge of the Federal Public Service. Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General, Atlanta Region (FDIC OIG).
Documents show how the disgraced lawyer donated $1,000 to the Democrat’s 2020 primary campaign around the time she received the huge payouts. She got them after providing inflated companies with the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), aimed at small businesses.
“The FDIC OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to prosecute and bring to justice those who abused such pandemic relief programs and threatened the integrity of our nation’s financial institutions.”
He then described how Robertson and confirmed accomplice Chandra Norton filed fraudulent applications on behalf of four companies that Robertson actually owned, resulting in $7,020,779 in PPP funds being deposited into her bank accounts.
Robertson then used the proceeds for her personal benefit, he said, citing purchases of luxury items such as a 10-carat diamond ring and transferring money to relatives and Norton, the FBI said.
the Rolls and other items were also purchased, and officials traced three transfers in the month of May 2020 alone.
They amounted to more than $5 million – a third of the outrageous amount that Robertson and her co-conspirators had secured.
It is not yet known whether Willis — the Fulton County district attorney — will ultimately be included in that class as officials investigate the extent of their relationship.
In the meantime, Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee told the court last week that the case will be stayed indefinitely — until a panel of judges rules on whether Willis should be disqualified.
After receiving Robertson’s donation, Willis defeated her boss – who was also plagued by scandal – at longtime District Attorney Paul Howard, following a contentious Democratic primary and runoff in August 2020.
Excerpt from the criminal complaint against Shelitha Robertson showing the fictitious companies into which millions of dollars in public funds were poured
Court documents filed in federal court show how millions of dollars were distributed to Robertson’s bloated companies
As for Robertson, she was sentenced Friday to 849 days in jail, with 637 days of credit served and 212 days of good time credit.
This amounts to a prison sentence of approximately seven years, after which she will also receive a probation period of 44 months.
She served as an assistant city attorney for the city of Atlanta in the early 2000s after working as a police officer for more than a decade.
She subsequently completed her law degree and founded several successful companies.
Among them was her and her influencer daughter’s podcast “Mommy and Me,” in which the pair discussed “navigating life’s challenges” and offered advice.
In an October 2023 segment ironically billed as “integrity over dollars,” Robertson advised followers to “pursue their dream” because “money will come.”
“If you’re passionate about something you love, you can do it for free. Never go after the money,” she says in the resurfaced clip.
‘The money will come. Chase your passion, chase your dream. The money will come.’
Her daughter, Brii Renee, posted a glowing tribute to her mother a few weeks ago – long after the fraud allegations came to light and the evidence against her piled up.
Robertson – seen giving financial and life advice on her podcast – was sentenced Friday to 849 days in jail, with 637 days credit served and 212 days good time credit
Willis’ office has not yet commented on the conviction or the donation, saying her case against Trump is temporarily on hold as officials investigate her and Robertson’s relationship
Trump is one of 19 people charged in the sprawling case, which was dropped Wednesday as a result of Robertson’s arrest
“I wouldn’t be who I am today without the amazing mother, for example, hustler, you are!” she wrote at the time, sharing the post with her more than 600,000 Instagram followers.
“Thank you for every sacrifice you’ve made and every dream you’ve helped me achieve!”
A few months earlier, a federal jury convicted Robertson of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and money laundering — the same charges she was convicted of on Friday.
There, at the Northern District Court of Georgia, Robertson broke down in tears when he learned she would spend the next seven years behind bars.
She told the court she was ‘devastated’ and that her ‘business was gone’.
‘My (law) license is gone. My belongings are gone.” she continued. “All I have left is my family and my faith in God,” she said.
Robertson will receive credit for the six months she has served in custody since December, which, along with the good behavior credits, will shave 20 months off her sentence.
Willis’ office has not yet commented on the sentencing or the donation, which was first reported on Sunday The New York Post.
Robertson’s punishment is already underway.