Mokena Couple Faces Charges On PPP Loan Scam Of More Than $1M: Report

MOKENA, IL — A Mokena couple faces multiple charges, including wire fraud and theft, after prosecutors say they fraudulently obtained more than $1.1 million in payroll protection loans.

Jennifer Wirtz, 48, and Joseph Wirtz, 47, were charged on Tuesday, according to Will County court records.

Both were charged with theft, wire fraud and loan fraud, and Jennifer Wirtz was also charged with laundering money and theft by deception.

The Lockport Police Department handled the investigation. Police officials told Patch on Wednesday that the department will issue more information about the criminal complaints on Monday.

Citing the court-filed criminal complaint, Shaw Media reported on Tuesday that the couple used deception to obtain $1.1 million in PPP loans. The federal loan program was established to assist businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic with paying their employees.

Shaw Media reported that the couple used more than $650,000 of the funds to purchase a home in Mokena and obtained the loan in 2021. The newspaper reported that they applied for the loan in the name of Joliet-based Josco Construction Company.

The company’s website states that it was founded in 2012 by Jennifer Wirtz and today, has more than 50 employees and operates a total of 11 directional bowing crews as well as a number of other crews and four aerial communication crews.