FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) -- Henry Ellard Jr. pleaded guilty Wednesday to stealing $144,000 in COVID-19 relief money, according to U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert. Officials say 39-year-old Henry Ellard Jr. of Fresno created Baptiste Ellard LLC in July 2020 and used the company to further the scheme. 39-year-old Henry Ellard Jr. of Fresno According to the federal Department of Justice, he then used the LLC to apply for and receive $144,000 in COVID-19 relief money from the Small Business Administration (SBA).  Ellard falsely told the SBA that Baptiste had 10 employees, an annual payroll of more than $695,000, and that he would use the loan proceeds for business expenses.  According to the Department of Justice, the company had no employees, no annual payroll, and no real operations and as such, the company was ineligible for PPP loans. Ellard subsequently used $144,000 of the relief money for personal expenses, including restaurants, bars, airfare, hotels, clothing, and golf. This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Barton and Arelis M. Clemente are prosecuting the case. Ellard is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 24, 2025. Ellard faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.  The actual sentence will be determined at the discretion of the court.