Louisiana Man Faces up to 10 Years in Prison After Pleading Guilty to Theft of More than $40,000 in Social Security Funds

Louisiana – On June 8, 2022, U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that John Edward Jones, age 42, of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty to Theft of Government Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641.

According to court documents, Jones began collecting Social Security Administration benefits paid to a deceased individual around July 2015 and continued until March 2020. Jones received approximately $40,361.00 in fraudulent Social Security Administration benefits to which he was not entitled.

Jones faces up to ten years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. Wendy B. Vitter, United States District Judge, set the sentencing date for September 8, 2022.

The work of the Social Security Administration, the Office of the Inspector General, and the Louisiana State Police was lauded by U.S. Attorney Evans. Assistant United States Attorney Maria Carboni is in charge of the prosecution in this case.