Reality TV star charged with fraud after allegedly spending small business stimulus on jewelry

On Wednesday, the Justice Department announced the arrest of a reality TV star who is accused of using federal loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to buy jewelry and other personal luxury items.

According to the press release, "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta" personality Maurice Fayne, known by the stage name Arkansas Mo, "allegedly stole money meant to assist hard-hit employees and businesses ... and instead greedily used the money to bankroll his lavish purchases."

The PPP has been a key part of the coronavirus stimulus package, intended to give small businesses immediate credit to help them continue paying their employees. However, the program has suffered a number of problems, including unclear rules about how to spend the money and several nationwide corporations being inappropriately approved for the loans.