A woman accused of filing false documents for federal COVID support for her online businesses — and of receiving almost a half million dollars before federal authorities cut her off — was recently convicted on all charges by a Denver jury.
Shambrica Washington, 39, was found guilty on all 31 counts of wire fraud, bank fraud, money laundering, and false claims.
The jury reached its verdict on June 28, the fourth day of what was scheduled to be a five-day trial in federal court.
Former Colorado data company executive convicted of mail and wire fraud, sold data on millions of people
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According to federal prosecutors, Washington was the owner of Tiny Toes and Tiaras, an online luxury baby apparel boutique, and TrueLove’s Daughters, a non-profit focused on female empowerment. Between March and July 2020, Washington obtained loans from the Small Business Administration for two Economic Injury Disaster Loans and from JPMorgan Chase for two PPP loans for a total of $485,749.00. The applications for the loans contained false information about how many people were employed by her businesses and the businesses’ wages, revenues, and costs of operation, according to prosecutors.
Additionally, prosecutors claimed Washington used the illegally obtained money to purchase a car and a custom-built home, pay for elective surgery, and pay credit card debt and other bills.
Washington also applied for millions of dollars in additional loans, grants, and tax credits which were not granted, according to prosecutors. These included a $6 million SBA grant intended for shuttered concert venues.
Shambrica Washington in a profile photo on several of her social media accounts, left, and her booking photo following her arrest in 2019 for identity theft.
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LinkedIn and YouTube/El Paso County Sheriff’s Office
Washington and her husband Jean Victor Damus lived in Fountain at the time of the infractions. They moved to Allen, Texas, in the fall of 2020. There, prosecutors claimed, Washington continued to file false information for federal COVID relief funds on behalf of at least one other company also based on high-end children’s fashion.
The couple sold their Fountain home for $420,000 but only needed a loan of less than $24,000 to complete the purchase of the $1,140,000 (assessed value) home in Texas, according to a search of online public records.
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A federal indictment was first filed against the couple in June 2022. Victor Damus reached a plea deal with prosecutors a year later and was sentenced last November on a single count of False Claims to the Internal Revenue Service. He received a sentence of three years of supervised probation.
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Washington, meanwhile, fought the accusations. Very publicly, in some cases. In the lead-up to the trial, an X account operated by a Shaye Damus of Colorado Springs railed on local, state and federal authorities: “KKK country N Colorado. Corruption stemming from local law enforcement N El Paso County all the way 2 the DOJ N FBI. When will it end,” was posted on March 7, 2023. “When will black people be free in this country?”
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Federal authorities claimed Washington failed to list her criminal record on at least one application for federal funds. Washington pleaded guilty to identity theft in El Paso County court in June 2020 – during the time she was allegedly filling out falsified federal applications. She was given a two-year deferred sentence in the county case along with 100 hours of community service. That county case has since been re-opened, however. Washington is scheduled to appear in a review hearing Thursday.
She faces a judge for the federal fraud sentencing in late September.
IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI Denver Field Office conducted the federal investigation.
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Logan Smith
Logan Smith is an assignment desk editor at CBS Colorado in Denver with more than 30 years of journalism experience in digital, television and print media.
On Friday, the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 announced that it has reached a tentative agreement with the JBS meat processing plant in Northern Colorado.
The union held a three-week strike beginning in March over what it called unfair labor practices and low wages. The company and the labor union, which represents approximately 3,800 workers, announced that workers would return to work on Tuesday without a new agreement or change to JBS’s offer.
JBS Meat Processing Plant workers in Greeley went on strike early Monday morning.
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CBS
The new agreement comes after UFCW Local 7 says parties returned to the bargaining table for two days of negotiations.
In a statement to CBS Colorado, JBS confirmed it has reached a tentative agreement with the union.
The agreement will be presented to the membership for a ratification vote on Sunday.
Throughout the spring, the Colorado Buffaloes have battled a significant number of injuries in the wide receiver room. However, looking ahead to the fall, there are two crucial receivers that coach Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes will love to have back.
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Oct 25, 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Texas Longhorns wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. (0) catches the ball during the fourth quarter against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
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DeAndre Moore Jr.
“DeAndre’s like a dynamic person. You guys will see that as he gets healthy and gets to play. So DeAndre, he’s been great from the leadership perspective and still showing up every day with a smile on his face and being happy to be there and leading the guys and teaching them what it’s like to be a receiver from the standpoint of knowledge wise and studying and learning in the room,” said offensive coordinator Brennan Marion on wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr.
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Marion making statements like this about Moore could reveal role that the Texas transfer receiver will have once healthy. In his time with Texas, Moore was very productive as he recorded 77 receptions for 988 yards, 11 touchdowns, and an average of 14 yards per catch. In his Longhorns career, Moore continued to progress and because of his versatility he was able to be a great weapon all over the field.
While the production is important, it seems that during the spring when he has been out with injury, Moore has stepped into a great role as a leader to teach the younger receivers how to prepare and be successful as a receiver when it comes to the mental side.
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Nov 8, 2025; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Joseph Williams (8) celebrates after catching a pass for a touchdown during the second quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images | Ben Queen-Imagn Images
Joseph Williams
“I love Jo, he’s a great kid. His story is amazing, he works really hard. Just excited to get those back out there not only for their play on the field, but their leadership with the guys,” added Marion on wide receiver Joseph Williams.
As one of the few returning players to Colorado for the 2026 season, Williams has put his head down to work, and that has stood out to Marion in both his character and the impact he can have on the field as a player and as a leader.
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Williams was a good option to get the ball to in 2025 and could become an even bigger factor in Marion’s offense with his speed and work ethic. Last season, Williams totaled 37 receptions, 489 yards, four touchdowns, and an average of 13.2 yards per reception with the Buffaloes.
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The offense as a whole was inconsistent last season, but when Williams was able to get the ball in his hands, he showed he had the talent to make plays and could be a great option for 2026.
Williams has missed a lot of spring due to an injury as well, but has stepped in as a leader, bringing energy to practice as he learns the new offense and helps to develop the young receivers.
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Nov 22, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Julian Lewis (10) scrambles in the first quarter against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Offensive Outlook For The Fall
As a tandem, Moore and Williams have great physical traits with their speed and athleticism, but also their intangibles of leadership and understanding the game at a different level to help contribute to what many hope to be a much better offense.
The trust and anticipation that Marion seems to have in Moore and Williams suggest that both players will have a huge role in the offense when they return for fall camp. When the fall does come around, Moore and Williams do have to be prepared on the mental side for Marion’s offense, but based on their character and desire to lead, that should not be a problem.
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Redshirt freshman quarterback Julain Lewis projects to be heading into his first full year as the starter and having targets like Moore and Williams could be monumental for his development.
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Heading into the 2026 season, Marion looks to have another explosive year with his offense. Moore and Williams have a major opportunity to be consistent targets in the offense, but also can function as leaders to ensure everyone is on the same page to help the Buffaloes find success once again next season.
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Martin Necas, Nathan MacKinnon and the Avalanche have had a lot to celebrate this season. Jeff Curry / Imagn Images
The Colorado Avalanche clinched the Presidents’ Trophy with a 3-1 win over the Calgary Flames on Thursday night.
This is the fourth time in franchise history the Avalanche have finished atop the NHL’s regular-season standings. They also won the Presidents’ Trophy in 1997, 2001 and 2021.
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Colorado will be looking to buck a recent trend of disappointing postseasons for Presidents’ Trophy winners. Nine of the last 10 teams to win the trophy have lost in the first two rounds of the playoffs, and no winner has won the Stanley Cup since the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks.
Prior to that, the Presidents’ Trophy winner had fared relatively well in the postseason. From 1999 to 2008, four of the nine Presidents’ Trophy winners went on to win it all, including Colorado’s 2000-2001 team led by Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg and Patrick Roy.
Colorado has been the NHL’s dominant team from start to finish in this regular season. It is only the sixth team in league history to hold first place from Nov. 1 through the end of the season. The team has been fueled by stars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, who will both be in the conversation for postseason individual awards. Goaltender Scott Wedgewood has been a pleasant surprise, leading the NHL in save percentage and goals-against average.
The Avalanche will now enter the postseason as the top seed and will face the winner of the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. That allows Colorado to avoid the dreaded 2-3 matchup in the Central Division that will pit the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild, two of the league’s best teams, against each other in the opening round.
Colorado has 114 points with four games remaining, with a chance to reach 120 points for the first time in franchise history. Only 12 teams have reached that mark in NHL history, with the most recent being the 2022-23 Bruins (135 points).
