Tyler County Man Sentenced for Lying to Federal Agents

BEAUMONT, Texas - A 53-year-old Warren, Texas man has been sentenced to prison for lying to federal agents in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.  

Anthony Welborn Jones pleaded guilty on Feb. 25, 2014, to making a false statement and was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Ron Clark.  Jones was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $114,433.37.

According to information presented in court, Jones was hired by the non-profit organization, the Hardin County Disaster Recovery Alliance (HCDRA), as the primary residential-repair building contractor to assist victims suffering from damage caused by Hurricane Rita’s impact on the Texas Gulf Coast on Sep. 24, 2005.  An investigation revealed that Jones was paid for repairs to homes which he had not worked on or had never completed.  When questioned by federal agents, Jones denied having been paid for the work he had not done.  Jones was indicted by a federal grand jury on Nov. 28, 2012.  On Feb. 25, 2014, he admitted to making the false statements and pleaded guilty.

                This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph R. Batte.