DALLAS - An indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Dallas this month, and unsealed last week, charges Tim Jones, 46, of Dallas, Texas, with offenses related to a scheme to illegally solicit payments from probationers, announced John Parker, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.
Specifically, Jones is charged with eight counts of use of interstate facility to commit travel act violation. Jones will remain on bond pending trial which is set for Dec. 18, 2017.
The indictment alleges that from January 2015 through October 2015 Jones was employed by the Dallas County Community Supervision and Corrections Department as a court probation officer. Jones was responsible for defendants who have been referred from field probation offices to the court level. Court probation officers are expressly prohibited from accepting payment from probationers for probation fees and other sums owed.
The indictment alleges, during Jones’ employment as a court probation officer he concocted and executed a scheme whereby he solicited and received cash and money orders from probationers in exchange for granting permission to travel, granting early release from probation, withholding arrest warrants, dispensing of community service hours, waiving probation requirements, and reducing the balance of probation fees.
An indictment is merely an allegation and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, however, Jones faces not more than 5 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Wirmani is prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
