Memphis, TN - On Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019, Senior U.S. District Judge Samuel Hardy Mays sentenced Jeremy Jones, 39, of Memphis to a total of 102 months in the Federal Bureau of Prisons for conspiracy to commit identity theft and mail fraud, and separate counts of identity theft, mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, and obstruction of justice. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee announced the sentencing today.
Jones was originally indicted for the above offenses on Feb. 16, 2016, and on Nov. 21, 2017, after a six-day jury trial in the U.S. District Court, Jones was found guilty as charged of using stolen identities to defraud over 100 individual victims and various financial institutions of more than $1.9 million dollars. In addition, he was found guilty on two counts of tampering with government witnesses.
According to information presented in court, Jones executed a scheme to steal the identities of personal acquaintances, car dealers and over 145 Memphis Neurology patients throughout 2011, 2012 and 2015. Jones used this identifying information to apply for loans and credit cards and open bank accounts in the individuals’ names without their knowledge. A co-conspirator who was employed at Memphis Neurology removed patient information from the company’s database and provided it to Jones upon his request. Jones agreed to compensate the co-conspirator for providing him with this information.
Jones sent and received loan applications, checks and other financial information from numerous lenders throughout the United States via the internet and mail carriers. The potential loss was $1.9 million.
"This is one of the most egregious acts of fraud that has been seen in the Western District of Tennessee. Identity theft and financial fraud of this magnitude and scale by the defendant has victimized hundreds of people by compromising their personal and private information for his own selfish and unjust enrichment, and I am pleased that we have been able to hold the defendant accountable and achieve justice for the victims." said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant.
David M. McGinnis, the Inspector in Charge of the Charlotte Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service, stated, "Identity theft has a huge financial and emotional impact on individual victims and the American public as a whole. It is especially egregious when the criminals intentionally target patients of a doctor’s office. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has aggressively investigated cases of identity theft for decades. This case is a prime example of our agency’s commitment to protect the public and hold those accountable that steal from innocent victims."
"Identity Theft is a heinous crime that attacks individuals’ credit worthiness, U.S. financial institutions and our trusted merchants," said Channing Irvin, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Memphis Field Office. "This case illustrates the significant community impact, whereby a doctor’s office and its patients were victimized. The Secret Service prides itself in protecting our communities and nation’s financial institutions. Identity Theft crimes serve as one of our core violations, which we vigorously investigate."
After multiple sentencing hearings throughout 2018 and 2019, Jones was ordered to pay criminal restitution to the victims in the total amount of $199,698.35. During the sentencing hearing, Judge Mays commented that this case involved "one of the most egregious acts of fraud I’ve seen since being on the bench."
The United States Postal Inspection Service and the United States Secret Service investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Damon K. Griffin and Murre Foster prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
