BAKER, LA – Erin D. Jones, 49, of Baker, Louisiana, will spend the next 30 months in federal prison after being sentenced for a brazen wire fraud scheme that bled a Baton Rouge truck and diesel engine repair shop of over $334,000. U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson handed down the sentence Friday, along with three years of supervised release and a hefty order for restitution and a money judgment totaling $334,092.03.
The scheme, unfolding between May 2019 and April 2024, centered on Jones’ position as a part-time bookkeeper. Trusted with handling the company’s finances, she instead systematically pilfered customer payments. Jones intercepted checks mailed to the business, endorsing them for deposit into her own personal accounts via ATM and mobile deposit. The checks originated from customers nationwide, representing legitimate payments for services rendered.
What set this fraud apart was the calculated cover-up. Jones didn’t just steal the money; she actively erased the evidence. Using her access to the company’s accounting software, she deleted the corresponding invoices, effectively wiping the records of the payments she’d diverted. This allowed her to continue the scheme for years, accumulating a total of approximately 431 fraudulently deposited checks.
Acting United States Attorney April M. Leon emphasized the impact of such crimes on local economies. “Small businesses are the backbones of a local economy,” Leon stated. “Employees are entrusted with duties and responsibilities that contribute to those companies either thriving or failing. Therefore, prosecuting fraud at these establishments are important, and we join our federal and local law enforcement partners in prioritizing them accordingly.”
The U.S. Secret Service, leading the investigation alongside the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, highlighted the agency’s commitment to tackling financial crimes. “The U.S. Secret Service takes our mission to investigate financial crimes seriously,” said SAIC James A. Kearns. “This individual abused their position of trust to steal from their company and its clients, and now they will face the consequences of those actions.” Kearns vowed continued vigilance against such offenses in Louisiana.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan A. Stevens, also serving as Senior Litigation Counsel, prosecuted the case. The investigation underscores the collaborative effort between federal and local agencies to hold financial criminals accountable. Jones’ case serves as a stark warning: abusing a position of trust for personal gain will be met with serious federal penalties.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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