OXFORD — A Columbus man who used stolen COVID relief funds to buy a million-dollar Starkville house, complete with an air-conditioned tree house for kids, has asked a federal judge to reduce his sentence by a third.
Christopher Paul Lick, 48, pleaded guilty to a single count of wire fraud last year, admitting he defrauded the government of more than $6 million in pandemic relief funds.
Senior U.S. District Court Judge Glen Davidson sentenced Lick to serve six-and-a-half years (78 months) in federal prison and to repay $6 million. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and up to a $1 million fine.
Under new sentencing guidelines, Lick argues that his sentence could have been more than two years shorter and asks Judge Davidson to reduce his sentence. The new sentencing guidelines went in effect in November and will become retroactive in February 2024.
According to Lick, the new sentencing guideline for wire fraud by someone with no criminal history is a range of 51-63 months, compared to the old guideline of 63-78 months.
“Since the petitioner does not have a prior criminal history, petitioner believes he qualifies for a two-point reduction,” Lick says in the motion filed pro se (without an attorney) in federal court last week. “The petitioner humbly requests a reduction of 27 months.”
The motion claims Lick has been “working diligently to make amends” and wants to continue his work “helping to provide job training for Mississippians with special needs and disabilities.”
Lick is currently incarcerated at a minimum-security federal prison camp located at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. According to the Bureau of Prisons, his current release date is Aug. 29, 2026. With a 27-month reduction, Lick could be released in May 2024.
In 2020, Lick owned a Columbus candle shop that employed seven people. But when he applied for more than $6 million in four separate federal Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loans, he said he employed more than 700.
He used the ill-gotten gains to buy a million-dollar house formerly owned by Mississippi State head football coach Joe Morehead. The property, located just south of Starkville, included a guest house/entertainment area larger than most personal homes, a full-size basketball court and a tree house that was air conditioned and had a half-bath. He also purchased a $100,000 Tesla and played the stock market with $2.5 million in taxpayer funds.
Government prosecutors said Lick was very successful in the market. He made around $10 million in GameStop shares and could have repaid the PPP loans and still had about $4 million profit. By the time federal authorities were notified of the fraud, the GameStop bubble had burst and most of the $10 million was gone.
Following his arrest in May 2021, the government seized the house, the car, several bank accounts (more than $31,000 in cash) and the investment account. Prosecutors called it a “very significant monetary seizure” but admitted it did not come to the full restitution.
During sentencing, Lick apologized for his actions and told the judge, “I accept whatever sentence you deem appropriate.”
A federal grand jury originally indicted Lick on 16 counts of wire fraud and money laundering. He could have faced up to 30 years in prison and up to a $1 million fine for each count of wire fraud plus up to 10 years per count for money laundering. By pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud, the government agreed to dismiss the other 15 counts.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 30 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 30 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
Join the Discussion