Florida: ‘Grant Bae’ Operator Convicted of Fraud; Prosecutors Say She Gambled Away Hundreds of Thousands at Casinos
- A Lake City, Florida, woman whose “Grant Bae” business promised minority business owners government grants has been convicted of fraud and money laundering.
- A federal jury in Jacksonville found Treashonna P.
- According to court records described by prosecutors, Graham and her co-defendant, Joey Williams, created Grant Bae, which said it helped minority business owners get government grants.
A Lake City, Florida, woman whose “Grant Bae” business promised minority business owners government grants has been convicted of fraud and money laundering. Prosecutors said she took about $2.9 million from more than 1,000 people and “gambled away hundreds of thousands of dollars at local casinos,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida said on October 9, 2026.
A federal jury in Jacksonville found Treashonna P. Graham, 42, guilty of all 13 counts in her indictment: conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and money laundering. She faces up to 20 years in prison on the conspiracy and each wire fraud count and up to 10 years on each money laundering count. Sentencing is set for January 19, 2027.
What the jury heard
According to court records described by prosecutors, Graham and her co-defendant, Joey Williams, created Grant Bae, which said it helped minority business owners get government grants. Graham charged fees and told clients the company was working to obtain grant money for them.
The evidence at trial showed she never hired anyone to find or obtain grants and never helped write grant applications, the office said. Prosecutors said she used the money on vehicles, jewelry, clothing and other personal property, as well as casino gambling. Williams pleaded guilty earlier and is awaiting sentencing.
The regulators got there first
The criminal case followed a civil lawsuit that the Federal Trade Commission and the State of Florida filed against Graham, her company C Lee Enterprises LLC, and Grant Bae in 2022. The FTC’s case file shows:
- June 13, 2022: The FTC and Florida file their complaint. They alleged that Grant Bae took money from businesses, sometimes thousands of dollars each, with false promises of “guaranteed” grant funding and COVID-19 economic benefits that did not materialize.
- June 21, 2022: A federal court issues a temporary restraining order.
- December 2022: Graham and her company agree to a stipulated order for a permanent injunction and a monetary judgment. Williams, named as a relief defendant, agrees to a separate order.
- January 4, 2024: The court enters both orders. The FTC says the operators face a permanent ban from grant-writing and business consulting services.
The FTC complaint lists other names Graham used, including Shonna Graham and Shonna Lee Williams.
What happens next
Graham is to be sentenced on January 19, 2027, in federal court in Jacksonville. The FBI and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigated, and Assistant U.S. Attorney John Cannizzaro is prosecuting.
