Nnenna Mary Jones, Wire Fraud, Texas 2023

Nnenna Mary Jones, a 40-year-old Melissa woman, has been sentenced to federal prison for violating laws in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today.

Jones pleaded guilty to wire fraud and was sentenced to 14 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on December 20, 2023. In addition to her prison sentence, Jones was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $16,950.

The scheme involved the Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity in Plano, Texas. The foundation serves Muslim women and their families who are survivors of domestic and family violence, offering in-house legal assistance with the immigration process, among other services.

Jones, who worked as a paralegal for the foundation and was a Department of Homeland Security Accredited Representative, falsely told clients that they were required to pay certain fees to the government in relation to their immigration proceedings.

However, the clients’ fees had either been waived by the government or paid by the foundation. Jones instructed clients to leave the “pay to” line on checks and money orders blank, photocopied the documents, and wrote her own name in the “pay to” line of the originals, cashing them or depositing them into her own accounts.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean J. Taylor.

The Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation offers free immigration legal assistance, and most of its clients qualify for waivers of certain fees incurred during the immigration process. However, Jones’ scheme targeted clients who did not qualify for these waivers, forcing them to pay unnecessary fees.

Jones’ sentence serves as a reminder of the importance of integrity and honesty in the legal profession. Her actions not only harmed her clients but also undermined the trust and faith that the public has in charitable organizations like the Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation.

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