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Former City Council Member Basheer Jones Facing Bribery, Fraud Charges
Source: Jason Miller / Getty
Basheer Jones, a former Cleveland City Council member, is accused of ripping off non-profits for thousands of dollars. Jones, 40, previously represented Ward 7.
The Department of Justice issued a press release Monday declaring that Jones defrauded multiple community stakeholders out of more than $200,000.
From FOX 8:
According to court documents, the release said, from about December 2018 to June 2021, Jones, 40, allegedly deceived local nonprofits into making payments toward projects they thought would benefit the city of Cleveland and revitalize Ward 7, but the money instead was ultimately benefitting Jones.
The release went on to say that funds were diverted into accounts owned by Jones’ romantic partner.
In one instance, Jones told a nonprofit he needed $50,000 to plan a community event for school-aged children. He told them the city would reimburse the money. The event never happened, and Jones is accused of splitting the money between himself, his partner, and other associates.
In another instance, Jones is accused of acquiring property from one nonprofit, under the guise that he’d be helping them acquire the property from the original owner. However, he instantly turned around and sold the property to another nonprofit.
Jones is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of the Inspector General, the FBI Cleveland Division, and the IRS – Criminal Investigation.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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