Son of Fresno State football standout pleads guilty in COVID fraud case, prosecutors say

The son of former Fresno State standout and NFL wide receiver Henry Ellard Sr. pleaded guilty Wednesday to fraud related to the COVID-19 pandemic, prosecutors said.

Henry Ellard Jr., 39, pleaded guilty to stealing $144,000 in COVID-19 relief money by lying about the number of employees in his company, Baptiste Ellard LLC, prosecutors said.

Ellard had been in negotiations with prosecutors before the case was filed in September, according to his attorney, Jeffrey Hammerschmidt of Fresno.

"Mr. Ellard Jr. accepts responsibility for his actions and will pay restitution," Hammerschmidt said.

Ellard was arraigned and entered his plea in his first court appearance on Wednesday.

As part of the plea deal, he agreed to pay back the money, according to court records. Hammerschmidt says he does not expect Ellard to see any jail time.

Prosecutors said Ellard lied to the Small Business Administration in July 2020, saying Baptiste Ellard LLC had 10 employees and an annual payroll of more than $695,000 in order to get a COVID loan .

The business had no employees and no payroll, and should not have been eligible for the loan, according to prosecutors.

Ellard subsequently used $144,000 of the relief money for personal expenses like restaurants, bars, airfare, hotels, clothing and golf.

Ellard is set to be sentenced on Feb. 24.