Greensboro Woman Scams COVID Relief for $135K

GREENSBORO, NC – Shakerra Aarka Jones, 48, of Forsyth County, is facing a potential twenty-year prison sentence after admitting to a brazen scheme to defraud the U.S. Department of Treasury and Forsyth County’s Department of Social Services. Jones pleaded guilty Tuesday, August 6, to one count of wire fraud, according to U.S. Attorney Clifton T. Barrett for the Middle District of North Carolina. This wasn’t about need; it was a calculated grab for cash during a time when genuine hardship was rampant.

The scheme centered around the City of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance (“ERA”) Program. Established to provide a lifeline to low-income residents struggling with rent and utilities during the pandemic, the ERA program required strict verification of eligibility. Jones, however, saw it as an opportunity. She exploited the system by submitting fraudulent applications in 2021 and 2022, all to line her own pockets.

Court documents reveal Jones used her business, BAS Tax Service, as a phantom property owner in the applications. The kicker? Neither Jones nor BAS Tax Service actually owned any property. She fabricated a paper trail of lies, including fake rental agreements, forged arrears letters, and bogus property management agreements – complete with fabricated information and signatures. It was a carefully constructed house of cards built on deceit.

When the applications were approved – a testament to the volume of requests and the difficulty of immediate verification – checks were issued to BAS Tax Service. With only one exception, Jones funneled the funds directly into a bank account held in the name of Shakerra Jones d/b/a BAS Tax Service. The total haul from this cynical operation: $135,501 in ERA funds meant for families struggling to keep a roof over their heads.

Jones will be sentenced on November 24, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. before United States District Judge William L. Osteen, Jr. in Greensboro. Beyond the potential twenty-year prison term, she faces up to three years of supervised release and substantial monetary penalties. This case serves as a stark reminder that those who prey on emergency assistance programs will be held accountable.

The investigation was a collaborative effort between the United States Secret Service, Winston-Salem Police Department, and Forsyth County Department of Social Services Program Integrity Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Laura Jeanne Dildine is prosecuting the case, ensuring that justice is served for those who were legitimately in need of assistance during a difficult time.

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