NEWS RELEASE
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
Julia C. Dudley United States Attorney Brian McGinn Public Affairs Specialist |
BB&T Building 310 1st Street, S.W., Room 906 Roanoke, Virginia 24011 (540) 857-2974 FAX (540) 857-2179 |
June 29, 2009
HEALTH CARE WORKER PLEADS GUILTY TO STEALING IDENTITIES
Karen Jones Opened Credit Accounts Without Victims’ Consent
United States Attorney Julia C. Dudley announced today that Karen Priscilla Jones, age 48, of Lynchburg, Virginia, pled guilty today in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Roanoke on charges that she participated in an identity theft scheme.
Jones was charged in April 2009 with a variety of counts related to her illegal activity. The grand jury charged Jones with 18 counts of aggravated identity theft, two counts of possessing fraudulent identity documents, one count of forging endorsement on a United States Treasury check, six counts of mail fraud, six counts of wire fraud and one count of fraud in connection with access devices.
Today in District Court, Jones pled guilty to three counts of aggravated identity theft, two counts of mail fraud, two counts of wire fraud and one count of forging endorsement on a United States Treasure Check.
The maximum penalty faced by the defendant is a term on imprisonment of up to 76 years and/or a fine of up to $2,000,000. Each count of aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year term on incarceration that must run consecutive to all other terms of imprisonment.
Jones admitted today that while an employee at The Oaks Assisted Living Facility and Avante Assisted Living Facility, both located in Lynchburg, Virginia, she participated in an identify theft scheme in which personal identifiers of residents of these nursing home facilities were used to obtain credit accounts, services and merchandise. These actions were taken by the defendant without the victims’ authorization.
In all, Jones stole the identifiers of nine victims’ and used their information, without their knowledge. The defendant caused losses to various individuals and businesses in the amount of at least $9253.62.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 21, 2009. The defendant remains free on the terms bond issued at her initial appearance.
The investigation of the case was conducted by United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorney Charlene R. Day is prosecuting the case for the United States.