County Board Finance Committee Chairman Received $10,000 In PPP Loans As A Furniture Salesman - Won't Say Why

County Board Finance Committee Chairman Received $10,000 In PPP Loans As A Furniture Salesman – Won’t Say Why

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County Board Finance Chairman Jeffrey Gentz (D)
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson)

Can a furniture salesman take out $10,000 in forgivable dollars as a PPP loan? Not according to the research we’ve done at KCE. PPP loans are issued by private lenders and credit unions, and then they are backed by the Small Business Administration (SBA). The basic purpose of the PPP is to incentivize small businesses to keep workers on payroll and/or to rehire laid-off workers that lost wages due to COVID-19 disruptions. Jeffrey Gentz (D) sells furniture at Steinhafels in Kenosha – we verified this by calling the store. Until recently, Gentz was reportedly unemployed. We also told you that he had recently declared bankruptcy for three quarters of a million dollars. According to online records, Gentz took out two PPP loans for about $5,000 a piece. One was paid to “Jeffrey Gentz” and the other, “Jeffrey Gentz, DBA None.” DBA stands for “doing business as.”

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Gentz Loan #1 Details

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Gentz Loan #2 Details

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Gentz’s first loan from May 5th of 2020 appears to have been completely forgiven – meaning, the tax-payers paid his loan back in full. The second loan from March 20th of 2021 has not yet been forgiven.

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According to the Wisconsin department of financial institutions online records, Gentz doesn’t own any businesses as he is not registered as an agent. He did have an Limited Liability Corporation in 2015, but dissolved it in 2018. Fraudulent PPP applications are punishable by up to a $1,000,000 fine, 30 years in prison, or both.

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We reached out to Gentz to see what business, if any he was claiming needed this free money for payroll. Gentz did not return our requests for comment.

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Author

Kevin Mathewson

Kevin Mathewson is a disciple of Christ, husband and a father to two wonderful children. Mathewson was born and raised in Lake County, IL and worked as a police & fire dispatcher from 2005 to 2010 in Round Lake Beach, IL. Mathewson moved to Kenosha County in 2006, later being elected to the position of Alderman of the 8th District in 2012 and 2016. Mathewson is a private investigator, security contractor, journalist, and photographer. He enjoys spending time with his family, watching movies, camping and boating. His favorite amendment is the second, followed closely by the first. He loves his country and community.

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3 Responses

"Z" I will try this letter. says:

January 17, 2022 at 5:34 PM

That entire program was littered with fraud. Some of Kenosha’s richest people scored hundreds of thousands of benefits. Many more self employed Kenoshans scored lesser amounts. Maybe KCE should post the document. It would be a real eye-opener.

About Gentz. His only defense would be that he is not alone in his scam. Many others did the same thing. However, he is an elected official. I hope DOJ investigates.

Once again KCE breaks another story that the worthless KNews will not touch. Good for the KCE!

Reply
1. JC says:
  
  January 17, 2022 at 10:05 PM
  
  Anyone who has filed for bankruptcy should not be eligible to handling any type of finances for anyone let alone the County. What a fucking joke.
  
  Yeah, this shithead should definitely be investigated for these PPP loans when he wasn’t even self-employed and doesn’t own a business.
  
  Reply
JimBob says:

January 18, 2022 at 10:12 AM

Typical Democrat, reaching into the pockets of those who work hard and pay taxes. Did his recent bankruptcy qualify Gentz to be placed as County Finance Chairman?
How many Steinhafel customers would trust a salesman with Gentz’s Resume’?
I’m not holding my breath. If any legal proceeding occur, Democrat Prosecutors will usually give a slap on the wrist sentence to one of their own.

Reply