Nicholas Jones, Wire Fraud, Falsification of Records, Idaho 2020

Former Congressional candidate Nicholas Jones, 36, of Boise, Idaho, pleaded guilty to using COVID-19 relief funds for personal expenses and falsifying records in a report to the Federal Elections Commission.

According to court documents, in 2020, Jones applied for and received COVID-19 relief funds, totaling $753,600, including through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL). Despite certifying that these funds would only be used for business-related expenditures, Jones used a significant portion of the funds for personal expenses, including car payments, life insurance policies, and political advertisements.

Jones also caused his campaign committee to file a campaign finance report with the FEC, which omitted any in-kind contributions from any entity or individual other than Jones, including the thousands of dollars of in-kind contributions to his campaign in the form of employee time and work. Jones told employees of his small business that they could continue to be paid their normal wages if they worked on his congressional campaign.

The defendant faces a maximum total penalty of 40 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez, Jr., for the District of Idaho; and Special Agent in Charge Dennis Rice of the FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI is investigating the case.

Nicholas Jones, a former Congressional candidate, was charged with wire fraud and falsification of records. He faces a maximum of 40 years in prison. Jones pleaded guilty to the charges in the U.S. District Court of Idaho on an undisclosed date.

Jones, a small business owner, applied for and received COVID-19 relief funds totaling $753,600 in 2020. He used a significant portion of the funds for personal expenses, including car payments, life insurance policies, and political advertisements.

The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Rosaleen O’Gara and Nicole Lockhart of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho.

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