⏱ 2 min read
Darnell Jones, a member of the Ninedee gang, was sentenced to 145 months in prison for his role in a scheme to defraud the COVID-19 unemployment benefits system in Brooklyn, NY. Between March 2020 and August 2021, Jones used stolen personal identifying information to obtain over $800,000 in federally funded unemployment insurance programs. The scheme was perpetrated during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when many Americans were relying on these benefits to stay afloat.
Jones, also known as ‘EJ’, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft in April 2025. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to pay $838,120 in restitution to the New York State Department of Labor. The sentence is a significant blow to the Ninedee gang, which relied on the scheme to fund its illicit operations and procure firearms.
The investigation was led by the FBI, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General and the New York State Department of Labor, Office of Special Investigations. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.
The sentence demonstrates the commitment of law enforcement to dismantle violent gangs and cut off their sources of income, including those derived from fraud schemes. As United States Attorney Joseph Nocella stated, ‘Those who defraud innocent victims and pilfer federal funds to support violent gangs will face severe punishment.’
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: New York
- Location: NY
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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