Louisiana Man Faces Prison Sentence for Airline Baggage Scam Involving Over $550,000 in False Claims

Louisiana – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Pernell Anthony Jones, Jr., age 32, of Kenner, Louisiana, was sentenced today for Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349 and Mail Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341 and one count of Mail Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341 and 2.

According to court documents, Jones began flying commercial airlines under false or fictitious identities using fraudulent identification cards in or around 2015. When Jones arrived at the destination airport, he falsely claimed that his luggage had been lost and requested reimbursement for his lost luggage. Jones and his co-conspirators used this scheme to submit over 180 false claims to commercial airlines, including American, Alaska, Southwest, United, and JetBlue, requesting over $550,000 in reimbursement. The airlines paid out more than $300,000 in fraudulent claims.

Jones’ plea documents state that on April 7, 2018, he was arrested at Dallas Love Airport while attempting to pass through TSA screening with 36 fraudulent driver’s licenses and 47 credit cards under fictitious names. Jones was arrested again on March 5, 2020, at Louis Armstrong International Airport in Kenner, Louisiana, while attempting to pick up a reimbursement check for a fraudulent baggage claim. On March 5, 2020, law enforcement searched Jones’s home and discovered 34 fake driver’s licenses, 21 fake work identification cards, and a number of fake airline employee badges with Jones’s photograph.

Jones was sentenced to 46 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Susie Morgan, followed by three years of supervised release. Jones was also ordered to pay $327,451.61 in restitution to the victim airlines. In addition, Judge Morgan imposed a mandatory special assessment fee of $100 per count, for a total of $200.

“This sentencing demonstrates the steadfast work of the FBI and our partners in bringing to justice individuals like Mr. Pernell Anthony Jones, Jr., who engaged in fraudulent criminal activity and compromised national security for his own financial gain,” said FBI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams, Jr. “We would like to thank our state and federal partners including the United States Attorney’s Office, Department of Homeland Security, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the City of Dallas Police Department for their strong partnerships in disrupting this criminal enterprise.

U.S. Attorney Evans would like to thank the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the City of Dallas Police Department for their assistance with the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Maria Carboni is in charge of the prosecution in this case.