Westerville woman sentenced in $2.8M COVID-19 fraud after claiming ties to pizza shop

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Westerville woman was sentenced Tuesday for claiming affiliation with a pizza shop in a $2.8 million COVID-19 relief fraud scheme, according to federal prosecutors.

The United States Attorney's Office, Southern District of Ohio reports that Lorie Schaefer, 63, was sentenced to 70 months, nearly six years, in prison.

Schaefer pretended to be someone from Dayton-area pizza restaurants in order to get $1.9 million in COVID-19 relief money, federal prosecutors said.