A Junction City business owner pleaded guilty Wednesday, Jan. 7, to fraudulently obtaining more than $487,000 in federal funds intended to help businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, Oregon’s U.S. attorney announced.

Jodi Aliece Jennings, 50, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in connection with falsifying loan forgiveness applications after obtaining six Paycheck Protection Program loans and an Economic Injury Disaster Loan between April 2020 and January 2022.

Jennings falsely claimed that three businesses had payrolls before and during the pandemic. The loans were instead used for Jennings’ personal expenses, prosecutors said.

The falsified applications were for Meridian Redevelopment, J Jenn Enterprises Inc., and J2 Investments.

A sentencing hearing has been set for April 22 in U.S. District Court in Eugene.