EAST NEW YORK, NY – Darnell Jones, a member of the notorious Ninedee Gang, pleaded guilty on April 9 to wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft in connection with a financial fraud scheme that targeted federal pandemic relief programs.
Jones, who also goes by the alias “EJ,” admitted to using stolen personal identifying information to fraudulently claim over $800,000 from pandemic-era unemployment insurance programs between March 2020 and August 2021. These programs were established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, aimed at providing relief to those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to his involvement in the COVID fraud scheme, Jones also acknowledged committing additional wire fraud by acquiring personal and banking information from May 2021 to October 2024, with intended losses exceeding $3.5 million.
Court records reveal that Jones was the leader of fraud operations within the Ninedee Gang, a criminal organization based in the Louis H. Pink Houses in East New York. The gang has been linked to drug trafficking, violence, and efforts to intimidate witnesses, including the 2020 murder of former federal witness Shatavia Walls.
Prosecutors outlined how Jones and his co-conspirators exchanged personally identifiable information through text messages and cryptocurrency to facilitate their fraudulent activities. In one example, Jones submitted fraudulent unemployment claims using data stolen from New York residents.
Law enforcement recovered two firearms, equipped with laser sights, from a residence that Jones shared with a co-conspirator, further highlighting the dangerous nature of his criminal activities.
Jones now faces a sentence of up to 32 years in prison, including a mandatory minimum of two years for the aggravated identity theft charge. His sentencing is set for a future date.
The case underscores the ongoing efforts by federal agencies to combat fraud related to the COVID-19 relief programs, with many individuals and criminal organizations exploiting the urgency of the pandemic to steal from taxpayers.
