Evergreen Reporter

Erin D. Jones, a 49-year-old from Baker, Louisiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson to 30 months in federal prison for wire fraud. Her punishment includes three years of supervised release post-prison and restitution of $334,092.03. Additionally, a money judgment of the same amount was entered against her.

Jones worked part-time at a truck and diesel engine repair business in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she handled bookkeeping and accounting tasks. She had personal bank accounts at JPMorgan Chase Bank and Hancock Whitney Bank. The company maintained a business account at Hancock Bank.

From May 2019 to April 2024, Jones executed a scheme to defraud the company, using false pretenses. She had access to the company’s mail from a post office box in Baton Rouge, where she retrieved checks issued to the company. These checks from various customers were deposited into her personal accounts by ATM or online deposit.

Jones hid her actions by deleting invoices in the company’s accounting program. In total, she embezzled and fraudulently deposited around 431 checks totaling approximately $334,000.

Acting U.S. Attorney April M. Leon emphasized the importance of prosecuting such fraud, citing, “Small businesses are the backbones of a local economy.” Leon extended gratitude to the U.S. Secret Service and East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office for their investigation.

James A. Kearns, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge, commented, “The U.S. Secret Service takes our mission to investigate financial crimes seriously.” He noted the collaborative effort among law enforcement and highlighted the lack of tolerance for this crime in Louisiana.

The investigation was led by the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorney Alan A. Stevens, also Senior Litigation Counsel, prosecuted the case.