'Grant Bae' Founder Convicted: How a Fake Grant-Writing Service Took $2.9 Million From Small Business Owners

Published Oct. 12, 2026. Case statuses are current as of that date.

The pitch went straight to small business owners who were struggling: pay a fee, and a grant-writing company would get you government grant money. According to federal prosecutors, the company never wrote the grant applications it was paid for.

On Oct. 9, 2026, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida announced that a federal jury had found Treashonna P. Graham, 42, of Lake City, Florida, guilty of all 13 counts in an indictment tied to a company called "Grant Bae" [1]. Prosecutors say more than 1,000 people were victimized and that Graham stole about $2.9 million [1][2].

Note on status: Graham has been convicted by a jury but not sentenced, and she can still challenge the verdict through post-trial motions and an appeal. Her co-defendant, Joey Williams, has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing [1]. No victims are named in this article.

How the scheme worked

According to court records described by the U.S. Attorney's Office [1]:

1. A grant "service." Graham and Williams created Grant Bae, which said it helped minority business owners obtain government grants.
2. An upfront fee. Graham charged clients a fee for her services.
3. Fake progress. She told clients the company was working on getting grant money for them.
4. No actual work. The evidence at trial showed Graham "never hired companies to help locate or obtain grants nor did she help to write any grant applications for her clients," prosecutors said.
5. Where the money went. Prosecutors say Graham spent the money on vehicles, jewelry, clothing and other personal property, and "gambled away hundreds of thousands of dollars at local casinos" [1].

The earlier FTC case

Grant Bae was the subject of a civil case before the criminal one. In June 2022, the Federal Trade Commission and the State of Florida sued Graham and her company, C Lee Enterprises LLC, which marketed services under the Grant Bae brand. A federal court temporarily shut down the business and froze the defendants' assets [3].

The FTC's complaint said Grant Bae had been pitched on Facebook, Instagram and the Clubhouse audio app. It made these allegations [3]:

• Guaranteed grants. Grant Bae claimed all minority-owned businesses qualified for at least $25,000 in grant funding, and that a business buying the $6,999 "Elite" package would get at least $250,000.
• Fake status updates. Customers saw messages in an online portal saying grants were "awarded" or "pending," but the money never arrived. Many customers realized this too late to request chargebacks.
• A fund that did not exist. Grant Bae claimed access to $268 million in grant funding to "disperse throughout all our great clients."
• Refunds that never came. The company offered a "money-back guarantee" but often went silent and blocked customers who complained. The FTC quoted Graham saying in an online video: "I will block anyone and everyone who feels that they are investing their money in a scam."

In December 2022, the FTC announced proposed orders that would permanently ban Graham and C Lee Enterprises from grant-related services and business consulting. The order included a monetary judgment of more than $2 million, partially suspended because of inability to pay, and required the defendants to turn over a home, a car and a watch to a court-appointed receiver so they could be sold to fund refunds [4]. The FTC's statements in the civil case were allegations; the criminal jury verdict is the first finding of guilt.

The people charged

Treashonna P. Graham, 42, of Lake City, Florida, was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and multiple counts of wire fraud and money laundering. She faces up to 20 years in prison for the conspiracy and for each wire fraud count, and up to 10 years for each money laundering count. Sentencing is set for Jan. 19, 2027 [1]. Those are maximum penalties; a federal judge will decide the actual sentence.

Joey Williams, described by prosecutors as Graham's conspirator and co-defendant, previously pleaded guilty for his role and is awaiting sentencing [1]. The release did not give his age, city, the charge he pleaded to, or a sentencing date.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Cannizzaro [1].

Red flags of a grant scam

• Guaranteed grant money. Real grants are competitive. No legitimate grant writer can promise that you will win, or how much.
• Big upfront "package" fees that are tied to promised grant amounts.
• Status updates without paperwork. "Awarded" or "pending" messages in a portal mean nothing unless you can see the actual grant program, the agency, and the award letter.
• Secret pools of money. Claims of a private fund of millions "to disperse" to clients are a warning sign.
• Blocking and silence when you ask for proof or a refund.
• Pitches spread by influencers on social media, in place of verifiable track records.

What to do if you're targeted, or already paid

1. Verify before paying. Look up federal grant programs yourself at Grants.gov, and contact the agency named in any offer using contact details you find on your own.
2. Ask your card issuer or bank about a chargeback quickly. The FTC found that Grant Bae customers often learned too late to dispute charges [3].
3. Keep records: contracts, invoices, portal screenshots, messages and payment receipts.
4. Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, to the FBI at ic3.gov, and to your state attorney general.

Case status (as of Oct. 12, 2026)

Defendant	Court	Status as of Oct. 12, 2026	Source
Treashonna P. Graham, 42, Lake City, Fla.	U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida (Jacksonville)	Convicted by jury (announced Oct. 9, 2026) on all 13 counts: conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, money laundering; sentencing Jan. 19, 2027	[1], [2]
Joey Williams	U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida	Pleaded guilty (date and charge not stated in release); awaiting sentencing	[1]
Treashonna P. Graham; C Lee Enterprises LLC (civil)	U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida (FTC and State of Florida)	Proposed stipulated orders announced Dec. 8, 2022: permanent ban on grant and business consulting services; judgment over $2 million, partially suspended	[4]

Statuses can change. A jury verdict is not a sentence, and convictions can be appealed.

Sources

1. U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida, "Jury Convicts Lake City Woman in $2.9 Million Fraud Case," Oct. 9, 2026 (distributed via Public Technologies). https://www.pubt.io/view/3367E9CB95D2CB66BF91A949803A827BE93079B7
2. WJXT News4JAX, "'Grant Bae' founder guilty on all counts in $2.9 million fraud, money laundering case," Oct. 9, 2026. https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2026/10/09/grant-bae-founder-guilty-on-all-counts-in-29-million-fraud-money-laundering-case/
3. Federal Trade Commission, "FTC, Florida Act to Shut Down 'Grant Bae' Scam Preying on Minority-Owned Businesses Seeking Pandemic-Relief Grants and Funds," June 27, 2022. https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2022/06/ftc-florida-act-shut-down-grant-bae-scam-preying-minority-owned-businesses-seeking-pandemic-relief
4. Federal Trade Commission, "FTC, State of Florida Act To Permanently Shut Down Grant Bae Business Grant Scam," Dec. 8, 2022. https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2022/12/ftc-state-florida-act-permanently-shut-down-grant-bae-business-grant-scam

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