The federal indictment alleges James R. Jones stole the identities of soldiers deployed to Afghanistan earlier this year. Credit: 101st CAB via Flickr
A former Fort Campbell inspector pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges of fraud. The soldier was accused of stealing the identities of deployed officers and taking out loans in their names.
James R. Jones has changed his tune since telling the Associated Press last year that he was innocent. He now admits to abusing his position as a waste, fraud and abuse inspector. He acknowledges using names, Social Security numbers and birth dates to obtain two loans.
The 43-year-old Sgt. 1st Class also told prosecutors he tried to conceal the fraud scheme by blaming an officer who was deceased and getting a fellow service member to destroy evidence on an Army-issued laptop.
Jones will be sentenced in August by U.S. District Court Judge Aleta Trauger. The most serious punishment could come from the bank fraud charge, which carries a maximum of 30 years in prison. The cover-up could add even more time.
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