ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - A former federal employee and two other women have pleaded guilty in COVID-19 pandemic fraud cases, according to prosecutors.

Rena Barrett, a former Small Business Administration (SBA) loan officer, pleaded guilty on Aug. 11 to making false statements to the agency in connection with applications for more than $550,000 in fraudulent COVID-19 pandemic loans, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.

Barrett, 45, of Covington, became an SBA employee in October 2020. In May 2021, she submitted a fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) application for $170,000, prosecutors said.

SBA declined to approve the loan. Two months later, Barrett approved it herself.

The agency soon discovered that Barrett had abused he

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