HOUSTON, TX — A Houston man is facing 18 federal charges after allegedly running illegal trucking operations under fake names, defrauding COVID relief programs, and defying federal safety shutdowns.
According to court records, Shaquan Jelks has been indicted on multiple counts, including conspiracy to defraud the U.S., wire fraud, witness tampering, and aggravated identity theft. Authorities say Jelks obtained Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans illegally through the U.S. Small Business Administration and used those funds to finance his trucking activities.
Federal prosecutors allege Jelks conspired with family members, friends, and associates to register trucking companies in their names, masking his control and avoiding oversight from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Despite being issued safety shutdown orders by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Jelks allegedly continued operating trucks, violating multiple federal court orders.
One of the most serious incidents tied to Jelks’ operations was a fatal crash in Vernal, Utah, in February 2022, involving a relative driving for one of his companies.
Between 2019 and April 2025, Jelks is accused of submitting fraudulent documents, including fake lease agreements and falsified records, to leasing companies and federal agencies to keep his companies active.
In a detention ruling issued Monday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan emphasized the danger posed by Jelks, noting he violated two FMCSA shutdowns and a court injunction. She wrote that Jelks “poses a danger to the community by operating commercial motor vehicles in an unsafe manner.”
Jelks remains in federal custody pending trial.
