Two Riverside County women were arrested Thursday, Oct. 24, after being indicted earlier this year on several charges related to Covid-19 business relief fraud, federal officials said. Vanessa M. Williams, a 35-year-old Corona woman and Denise Mata, a 34-year-old Moreno Valley woman were arrested Thursday morning for their alleged roles in the scheme., and arraigned later in the day. Both women pleaded not guilty and were released on $10,000 bond. A trial has been scheduled for Dec. 16. Authorities were still searching for 32-year-old Daryl D. Knighten Jr. and 33-year-old Mikhail G. Hoalim, two men also charged in the Aug. 14 indictment. The group allegedly worked together to submit fraudulent loan claims in exchange for receiving part of the funds. The defendants are accused of submitting fraudulent information and false statements to banks and the Small Business Administration in order to get Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans approved for themselves and others that they involved in the scheme. PPP loans were intended to help businesses get through financial difficulties related to the pandemic. After getting the loans, the defendants and others they involved, including their family members and close friends, used the money in ways that are not approved through the PPP, according to the grand jury indictment. Williams is charged with nine counts of wire fraud, while Mata is charged with 10 counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity fraud, stemming from her unpermitted use of another person’s Social Security Number as part of the PPP fraud. According to a press release from the Department of Justice, law enforcement estimates that this fraudulent scheme alone resulted in around $3.5 million of losses for the pandemic relief program. Attorneys for the two women arrested could not immediately be reached. Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | How the San Quentin prison baseball team sent one player to the pros Crime and Public Safety | LA DA seeks resentencing for Erik and Lyle Menendez in 1989 killings of their parents Crime and Public Safety | Former Riverside private school counselor pleads guilty to child pornography charges Crime and Public Safety | Police ask for public’s help finding stolen 1958 Corvette Crime and Public Safety | Man already in custody identified as suspect in fatal Riverside stabbing