Anthony Ray Jones, Falsified Travel Claims, Oklahoma 2021

In a shocking case of financial deceit, Anthony Ray Jones, a 55-year-old man from Midwest City, Oklahoma, has pleaded guilty to receiving approximately $55,210.50 in stolen money from the federal government through falsified travel claims.

According to sources, on May 4, 2021, a federal grand jury returned a one-count Indictment against Jones. The Indictment charged that between May 4, 2016, and August 22, 2019, Jones knowingly received stolen money belonging to the United States.

Public records reveal that Jones had been employed with the Department of the Air Force. During his employment, Jones sustained injuries and applied for and received worker’s compensation money under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act. As part of his compensation, Jones was able to be reimbursed for travel expenses to and from medical appointments related to his injuries.

However, Jones took advantage of the system by filing hundreds of false travel claims for medical appointments and was reimbursed approximately $55,210.50 resulting from those false travel claims. At his plea hearing, Jones admitted that he intended to keep the money and that he knew the money was stolen.

At sentencing, Jones faces up to ten years in prison, a $250,000 fine, mandatory restitution, and up to three years of supervised release. This case is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bow Bottomly. Reference is made to court filings for further information.

The U.S. Attorney’s office has released a statement urging individuals to report any suspicious activity to the authorities. As part of the investigation, it was discovered that Jones had been using the stolen funds for personal expenses.

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