NEW YORK, NY – A Philadelphia man’s elaborate scheme to pose as a high-ranking government official has crumbled. Brandon Jones, 35, was convicted on all counts today following an eight-day jury trial in Manhattan federal court. Jones, who also went by “Brandon McGeer” and “Brandon Jones-McGeer,” faces a potentially lengthy prison sentence for defrauding businesses and individuals out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The fraud began to unravel in early 2016 when the United States Postal Inspection Service started investigating Jones and his self-created “Office of the Commissioner, an IGO.” Jones styled himself as the “Commissioner” of this fictitious organization, claiming it was an “Intergovernmental Organization” funded by the federal government and working in conjunction with the United Nations. He then used this false pretense to solicit goods and services, forging government purchase orders, transportation requests, and payment documents.
The scope of Jones’s deception was brazen. He didn’t limit his targets to faceless corporations. Evidence presented at trial revealed he swindled a former Ambassador to the United Nations, luring the diplomat into providing consulting services for a supposed humanitarian aid project that never materialized. He also racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars in free hotel stays and airline tickets, living a lavish lifestyle on the backs of those he deceived. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman stated bluntly, “Jones went to great lengths to portray himself as a government official… Now that Jones has been convicted of his crimes, there will be nothing fictitious about the prison time he faces.”
This wasn’t a solo operation. In March 2015, authorities began investigating Sandra Zongo, identified as a “Deputy Commissioner” within Jones’s sham organization. Zongo was later charged with impersonating a federal official, wire fraud, passing fictitious obligations, and attempted benefits fraud. She was convicted on all counts in January 2017 after her own jury trial. The investigation into the full network surrounding Jones and the “Office of the Commissioner” remains ongoing.
Jones now faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for wire fraud, another 20 years for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and a hefty 25 years for passing fictitious obligations. Each charge also carries a potential fine of $250,000, or twice the profit Jones reaped from his crimes. While the maximum penalties are set by Congress, the ultimate sentencing decision rests with U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kiersten A. Fletcher, Jessica K. Fender, and Tara M. La Morte, prosecuted the case. The United States Secret Service and the Postal Inspection Service spearheaded the investigation. Authorities are urging anyone with information about Jones or the “Office of the Commissioner” to contact the USPIS at 1-877-876-2455. This case serves as a stark reminder that even the most elaborate cons will eventually be exposed.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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