State worker pleads guilty to COVID-19 relief loan fraud

A Woodridge woman who worked for the state has pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining pandemic relief loans from the federal government.

Candice Brumfield, 35, was sentenced Monday to two years of Second Chance Probation and ordered to repay $32,175 to the Small Business Administration, according to DuPage County court records. She also has to perform 30 hours of community service.

If she completes her probation successfully, the case against her will be dismissed.

She pleaded guilty to felony theft by deception with intent to deprive. Charges of loan fraud, wire fraud, forgery and income tax fraud were dropped.

Brumfield was indicted in May 2024.

Authorities accused her of obtaining a Paycheck Protection Loan and an Economic Injury Disaster Loan. It said that in April 2021, while she was working for the Illinois Department of Employment Security, she obtained a $20,000 loan for a business named Candice Brumfield. She said it was a nursing- or residential-care business, prosecutors said.

In November 2021, Brumfield applied for and received forgiveness for the loan.

Prosecutors said she also submitted false statements in a July 2020 application for the other loan, receiving more than $8,000 for a business named Sassy Hands.

The case was prosecuted by the Illinois attorney general’s office and the DuPage County state’s attorney’s office.