Forsyth County Woman Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud in Connection with COVID-19 Rental Assistance Funds

Greensboro, NC – Shakerra Aarka Jones of Forsyth County pled guilty Tuesday, August 6, to one count of wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud the U.S. Department of Treasury and Forsyth County’s Department of Social Services of funds allocated for emergency rental assistance, announced Clifton T. Barrett, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina.

According to court documents, Jones, age 48, submitted fraudulent applications to the City of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance (“ERA”) Program in 2021 and 2022 to obtain money to personally enrich herself. ERA funds were designated to assist low-income residents who were behind on their rent and/or utilities because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  A tenant had to meet eligibility requirements, and the tenant and property owner were required to submit supporting documentation. Jones submitted applications for ERA funds as though her business, BAS Tax Service, were the property owner to whom past-due rent was due, but neither Jones nor BAS Tax Service owned any property.  In the applications, Jones made false and fraudulent representations, including the submission of fake rental agreements, fake arrears letters, and fake property management agreements with false information and forged signatures.  When the applications were approved, the checks were issued to BAS Tax Service as the property owner, and, with one exception, Jones deposited them into the bank account in the name of Shakerra Jones d/b/a BAS Tax Service.  In total, Jones fraudulently obtained $135,501 in ERA funds.

Sentencing is scheduled to take place on November 24, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. in Greensboro, North Carolina, before United States District Judge William L. Osteen, Jr.  At sentencing, Jones faces a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison, a period of supervised release of up to three years, and monetary penalties.

The United States Secret Service, Winston-Salem Police Department, and Forsyth County Department of Social Services Program Integrity Unit are investigating. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Jeanne Dildine.

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