A Louisiana resident, David L. Jones, Jr., has admitted guilt to charges of conspiring to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. This admission is part of a scheme involving the use of stolen identities to purchase high-end vehicles in the Jackson, Mississippi area.
Court documents reveal that in June 2023, Jones and his accomplices acquired personal information from credit-worthy individuals. They created counterfeit identity documents and impersonated these individuals at car dealerships to secure vehicle financing. The group submitted fraudulent credit applications and succeeded or attempted to acquire vehicles from dealerships around Jackson.
Jones is due for sentencing on May 21, 2025. He faces a minimum sentence of two years and could be imprisoned for up to 22 years. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors.
Jones's associates, Paul Anthony Robinson and Sarah Elizabeth Calderon, have also pleaded guilty and are awaiting their sentences. Meanwhile, Joshanique Elouise Bailey and Anna Waldei face conspiracy charges related to wire fraud; their trials are pending. If found guilty, they could receive up to 20 years in prison.
Attorney General Lynn Fitch commented on the case: “When we established Mississippi’s Cyber Fraud Task Force four years ago, we knew that more and more criminal acts would have a cyber element and that our expertise and resources would be increasingly in demand,” adding that they are pleased with the collaboration between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and U.S. Secret Service in dismantling this auto theft ring.
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi alongside U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis and Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch.
The investigation is being conducted by the United States Secret Service together with the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office as part of their Cyber Fraud Task Force partnership.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is leading the prosecution efforts in this case.