The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado has announced that Robert Crust, 46, formerly of Greeley, Colorado, and Bethany Williams, 44, of Parker, Colorado, have been indicted by a federal grand jury. Crust faces five counts of wire fraud and six counts of money laundering. Williams is charged with two counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering.
According to the indictment, Crust and Williams engaged in a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration and lenders to secure emergency COVID-19 relief funds. Crust allegedly submitted loan applications with material misrepresentations to fraudulently obtain loans for three businesses he owned or managed in Colorado. He also provided fabricated documents to lenders, including tax forms and manipulated payroll reports. Williams is accused of making false statements on two loan applications for one business. The businesses received nearly $1 million collectively.
The indictment alleges that despite claims in the loan documents that funds would be used for legitimate business expenses, Crust and Williams spent the money on personal expenses such as airline travel and hotel accommodations in Las Vegas. Crust reportedly used loan proceeds to purchase a 2012 BMW X5 vehicle, a Jaguar E-PACE vehicle, and a boat.
Williams appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cyrus Y. Chung on May 20, 2025. Crust was arrested in Tampa, Florida on May 21, 2025, and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Natalie Hirt Adams the next day.
The charges are allegations at this stage; both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation’s Denver Field Office is investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Theodore O’Brien and Craig Fansler are prosecuting it.
Anyone with information about attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it via the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or through their Web Complaint Form online.
Case Number: 1:25-cr-00133-NYW
