A Louisiana man, David L. Jones, Jr., has admitted guilt to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in a scheme involving stolen identities used to purchase vehicles in Jackson, Mississippi. Court documents reveal that in June 2023, Jones and his accomplices acquired personal information from credit-worthy individuals to create fake identity documents. They then impersonated these individuals at car dealerships for vehicle financing applications.
Jones's sentencing is set for May 21, 2025. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of two years imprisonment with the possibility of up to 22 years. A federal judge will determine the final sentence based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Two co-conspirators, Paul Anthony Robinson and Sarah Elizabeth Calderon, have also pleaded guilty and await sentencing. Meanwhile, Joshanique Elouise Bailey and Anna Waldei are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud; their trials are pending. If convicted, they could face up to 20 years in prison.
Attorney General Lynn Fitch commented on the success of Mississippi’s Cyber Fraud Task Force: “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.” She added appreciation for collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and U.S. Secret Service in addressing this auto theft ring.
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi along with Special Agent Patrick Davis from the U.S. Secret Service and Attorney General Fitch.
The case is being investigated by the United States Secret Service alongside the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office through their joint efforts within the Cyber Fraud Task Force framework.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is handling prosecution duties for this case.
