Attorney General Laxalt Announces Las Vegas Man Found Guilty of Unemployment Insurance Fraud


February 24, 2015

Las Vegas, NV – Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt announced that Joshua Jones, 23, of Las Vegas, was found guilty of unemployment insurance fraud after a three-day jury trial last week. He was also found guilty of conspiracy to unlawfully obtain or increase benefits, and to obtain money under false pretenses. The fraud occurred between August 2013 and October 2013.

    The state charged Jones with conspiring to commit the fraud in April of 2014, while Jones was incarcerated on the charge of voluntary manslaughter for his role in the shooting death of a 16-year-old boy in 2010.

      During Jones’ trial, the state played recordings of telephone calls Jones made while incarcerated in the Clark County Detention Center. The recordings revealed that Jones directed his girlfriend at the time to file an unemployment claim on his behalf.

        “Defrauding the state for benefits cannot be tolerated, and the AG’s office will aggressively prosecute individuals who endeavor to swindle hardworking taxpayers for their own gain,” said Laxalt. “This attempt to defraud was particularly troubling because it was committed from behind bars--the very place this convict was sent to be reformed.”

          In July of 2014, Jones’ former girlfriend pled guilty to lesser charges, and agreed to repay the $1,440 she and Jones unlawfully obtained from the state.

            As a three-time convicted felon, Jones faces a possible habitual offender sentence for up to 20 years in prison, plus an order of restitution. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 15, 2015.

              The investigation of this case was a joint effort of investigators from the state’s Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation and the state’s Department of Corrections.

                To view the indictment, click here. To file a complaint about someone suspected of committing unemployment insurance fraud, click here.

                   Jones_Joshua

                  JONES, JOSHUA

                     (Photo Courtesy of the Clark County Detention Center)

                    ###