[Story has been updated to note all three defendants were released from federal custody, but no charges have been dropped]

Brundidge Police Chief Sam Green was one of three people arrested by U.S. Marshals Thursday morning for federal loan fraud. 

Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson made an announcement Thursday that a federal grand jury in Montgomery had indicted three people for their roles in a scheme to defraud the U.S. government. 

According to the indictment, 50-year-old Brundidge Police Chief Samuel Cornelius Green, 53-year-old Sharon Jones Green, and 40-year-old Schemillia Levera Fenn, all from Troy, are facing federal charges for their roles in a conspiracy to fraudulently receive funds through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

Doug Howard, public affairs officer for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Alabama, said the defendants made their initial court appearance on Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m. Howard said in white collar cases, defendants are often released after their initial court appearance. Howard said all three defendants were released after their court appearance Thursday, but, he said no charges had been dropped.

This program in question was created by Congress and allocated up to $46 billion in funding available to assist households that were unable to pay rent or utilities due to financial hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Attorney’s alleged that the conspiracy began on March 2, 2021, and continued through at least Nov. 9, 2021.

Samuel Green was charged with 13 counts in the indictment, including one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering; three counts of money laundering; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud; six counts of wire fraud; and two counts of aggravated identity theft. The same indictment charges Sharon Green with nine counts, including one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering; three counts of money laundering; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud; three counts of wire fraud; and one count of aggravated identity theft. Schemillia Fenn is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

If convicted of all the charges alleged in the indictment, Samuel Green, Sharon Green and Schemillia Fenn each face a sentence of up to 20 years in prison in addition to significant fines and restitution. Samuel and Sharon Green also face an additional two years for the aggravated identity theft charges that would run consecutive to any other sentence ordered against them. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.  

The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Inspector General investigated this case, with assistance from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the United States Marshals Service.  Assistant United States Attorney Michelle R. Turner is prosecuting the case.