Alderwoman Monet Wilson took $248,000 from the PPP loan program. This program was established to help struggling businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Wilson claimed to have a combination of 5 for profit and non-profit entities. Only businesses that were in operation during 2019 and were impacted by the pandemic were eligible for the funding. Loan amounts were based on payroll expenses for that year. To obtain the $248,000, Wilson claimed $1.1 million dollars in payroll expenses according to SBA data. In 2019, Wilson was a full time employee at the Illinois Department of Corrections.
All of the loans were forgiven which means that you paid the monies given to Wilson. It came from your pocket. Here we examine each of the PPP loans using SBA data and publicly available information.
Tomorrow’s Youth Foundation
TYF is an actual registered non-profit which provides football and cheer leading for youth. Wilson submitted a PPP loan application using this entity which netted $30,000. According to the SBA data, Wilson claimed the organization had two employees who each were paid $72,000 in 2019 for a total of $144,000. The NFP submitted a form 990 for 2019. It indicated the NFP took in $22,000 in contributions for all of 2019 that was used for program expenses. The form 990 also indicated that the NFP did not pay any employees.
1976
In 2020, Wilson submitted a PPP loan application for a NFP claiming to provide child and youth services. The application claimed the NFP had six employees who each were paid $24,000, also for a total of $144,000. A search of the IRS database of tax exempt organizations shows no entity called 1976 in Calumet City or anywhere in Illinois.
Sports & Recreation Instruction Sole Proprietorship
Wilson submitted a loan application claiming to operate a sole proprietorship that provided sports and recreation instruction. Per SBA data, the application claimed to have four employees who were paid $72,600 each for a total of $290,400 in payroll expenses. Sports related instruction (coaching) is what is largely provided by Tomorrow’s Youth Foundation. Are these the same or does the NFP have a for profit component? Does it mean that kids could join the football or cheer team but to receive instruction, they would have to write a check to Monet Wilson? A strict seperation policy would had to have been carefully delineated and contracted.
Cosmetics Sole Proprietorship
In 2021, Wilson submitted a PPP loan application for a claimed sole proprietor business involving a cosmetics line. For this application, Wilson received a check for $12,500. According to social media posts, According to social media posts, Wilson “launched” this business in August of 2020 when the pandemic was in full swing with lockdowns. It is inconsistent with program rules to start a business during the pandemic and then claim it was impacted by the pandemic then receive program funds.
Graphic Design Sole Proprietorship
Wilson additionally submitted an application claiming to operate a graphic design business. That application claimed to have $80,000 in payroll expenses which resulted in a payout of $16,665 to Wilson.
MC Custom Apparel S Type Corporation
This is an actual business that provides quality sewing and apparel options. According to their Facebook page, the clothing and apparel items are largely for youth sports entities. The SBA data indicates Wilson claimed to have four employees with a total of $468,000 in payroll expenses for the year 2019. Given this entity is a corporation, we cannot verify the claimed payroll expenses as can be done with a non-profit which files a publicly available form 990.
In Sum
Monet Wilson took $248,000 in taxpayer money by claiming to have over $1.1 million dollars in payroll expenses for the year 2019. In that year, Wilson was working full time at the Illinois Department of Corrections. Several of these loan claims using data provided by the US Small Business Administration are contradicted by publicly available information.
Given that the PPP loan program is paid for from your pocket and that Wilson wants your vote, she should provide a thorough explanation. Wilson could also provide her personal tax filings but so far has not done so.
No Respect For Law And Order
Alderwoman Monet Wilson is the same politician who was caught on a police body camera shouting at colleagues and calling the responding officer a “mother fucker.” She almost got herself arrested for creating the disturbance.