An Alabama man who committed COVID-19 loan fraud to the tune of $379,000 while he was a federal prison inmate was sentenced Thursday to nearly 16 years in a federal lockup.

Adrian Lacey, 46, of Semmes, was sentenced to 186 months in federal prison after being convicted in federal court in Mobile in May of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundering.

Lacey’s conviction came the same month he was due to be released from the federal prison system.

U.S. Bureau of Prison records indicate Lacey is no longer in federal custody, but the sentence handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Kristi DuBose means he will once again be behind bars.

While incarcerated in federal prison on prior fraud charges, Lacey orchestrated a scheme using stolen identities to apply for economic injury disaster loans, which were available as relief for business owners impacted by COVID-19 through the U.S. Small Business Administration.

DuBose also sentenced Lacey to five years of supervised release once he completes his prison term.

He was also ordered to forfeit more than $379,000 Lacey and his co-conspirators received through the scheme.

The SBA Office of Inspector General and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kasee Heisterhagen and Gaillard Ladd prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.