Ex-TV anchor Stephanie Hockridge gets 10 years for PPP fraud, joins Ghislaine Maxwell in jail
PHOENIX, ARIZONA: Stephanie Hockridge, the former Phoenix TV anchor, was sentenced to ten years in prison for her role in a multi-million--dollar COVID-19 fraud scheme. The case gained national attention because she will serve her sentence in the same facility as Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein’s associate.
Hockridge will report to the Federal Prison Camp in Bryan, Texas. Her husband, Nathan Reis, pleaded guilty in August and is scheduled for sentencing in December
Stephanie Hockridge sentenced 10 years for multi-million-dollar COVID relief fraud
The court ordered Hockridge and Reis to forfeit nearly $64 million linked to fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, the Justice Department announced. Hockridge was found guilty in June of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and is set to begin her prison term on December 30.
Disgraced ex-TV anchor Stephanie Hockridge will spend the next ten years behind bars for her role in a multi-million-dollar COVID fraud scheme – serving her time in the same cushy lockup as notorious sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.
— Ernesto Abreu (@ernestolabreu) November 23, 2025
The 42-year-old, a former Phoenix TV anchor… pic.twitter.com/JEWECBnEH4
She will join high-profile inmates, including Ghislaine Maxwell, Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, and ‘Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’ personality Jene Shah, according to AZ Family.
In her defense, Hockridge said her actions were a “sincere effort to support small businesses” navigating a chaotic government program during a time of “unprecedented need.” Once a celebrated journalist, Hockridge was nominated for an Emmy and named “Favorite Newscaster” by Arizona Foothills Magazine.
Stephanie Hockridge and Nathan Reis ordered to forfeit $64 million in PPP loans
Hockridge and Reis launched Blueacorn in 2020, presenting it as a company designed to help small businesses secure federal PPP loans. Prosecutors revealed that the couple charged borrowers extra fees, kept portions of the loans for themselves, and submitted falsified applications to the US Small Business Administration.
According to the Justice Department, the couple processed over $63 million in fraudulent PPP loans. Instead of supporting small businesses, investigators say they used the funds for personal enrichment. A congressional report found that Blueacorn often failed to properly review applicants and illegally charged borrowers “success fees,” violating SBA rules.
The Paycheck Protection Program was an $800 billion federal initiative intended to help small businesses retain employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hockridge’s case highlights how the program was exploited for personal gain by some individuals.
