Former Idaho congressional candidate pleads guilty to wire fraud and falsifying records – East Idaho News

BOISE (Idaho Statesman) — A former congressional candidate and Boise businessman who ran towards U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher in 2020 pleaded responsible to utilizing COVID-19 funds for private use and falsifying data to hide over $20,000 in in-kind contributions, the U.S. Division of Justice stated.

Nicholas Jones, 36, utilized for and acquired federal COVID-19 reduction funds for 3 small enterprise that totaled $753,600, based on a information launch from the division. Jones was supposed to make use of the funds just for business-related bills, however the division cited courtroom data that confirmed Jones used a big portion of the funds for private bills like automotive funds, life insurance coverage and political ads.

Jones pleaded responsible in U.S. District Courtroom of Idaho to wire fraud and falsification of data, based on the information launch. He may withstand 40 years in jail.

Jones utilized to 2 COVID-19 reduction applications together with the Paycheck Safety Program, which helped companies maintain staff, and Financial Damage Catastrophe Loans, which helped pay companies’ working bills, based on a plea settlement obtained by the Idaho Statesman.

Jones owned a number of small companies, together with a number of Good Burger eating places, a few of which have closed in recent times. He utilized for COVID-19 reduction loans for 3 of them, the plea settlement stated. Jones additionally owned a monetary establishment in Coeur d’ Alene and a former meals courtroom that Jones bought in 2018, based on a felony info doc.

It’s not clear whether or not Jones remains to be the CEO of Good Burger. The Statesman has reached out to the corporate for added info.

Jones has 4 present enterprise registrations for numerous Good Burgers with the Idaho secretary of state, based on the workplace’s web site.

“(Jones) took benefit of federally funded COVID-19 reduction funds for private acquire,” the plea settlement stated.

In March 2020, based on the plea settlement, Jones referred to as a gathering at one of many small companies that he owned to inform staff that in gentle of the COVID-19 pandemic, he may need to chop hours or wages, however he supplied his staff an answer: work on his congressional marketing campaign.

From March to June 2020, staff who labored on the fast-food restaurant and helped on the marketing campaign employees acquired over $20,000 in wages, a part of which got here from the PPP mortgage. That mortgage didn’t enable staff to be paid for engaged on his marketing campaign employees, and Jones knew it, based on the settlement.

Moreover, after Jones misplaced the first election in Could 2020, he informed his marketing campaign committee to file a finance report with the Federal Elections Fee that ignored the $20,000, based on the information launch and plea settlement. The cash ought to have been thought-about in-kind contributions within the type of staff’ time and work.

Jones didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark Thursday.

The FBI is investigating the case, based on the discharge.

Boise-based legal professional Mike French, who’s representing Jones, declined to remark.

A sentencing for Jones hasn’t been set, however he does plan to ask for a lesser sentence on the premise of psychological and emotional circumstances, based on a plea settlement filed throughout the U.S. District for the District of Idaho.