Former Cleveland City Council member Basheer Jones, age 40, is facing charges for employing his public position to obtain personal financial advantages nefariously. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio issued a release detailing Jones's indictment on two counts: wire fraud and honest services fraud. Yesterday's release accuses Jones of scheming to defraud various nonprofit organizations out of over $200,000 from December 2018 to June 2021.
The allegations point to a calculated operation in which Jones and a romantic partner, also implicated as a co-conspirator, set out to quickly deceive community stakeholders. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Jones misrepresented facts and hid significant details to lure nonprofits into funding projects that would benefit not the community but Jones's own coffers. The investigation suggests that Jones was able to funnel nonprofit funds into bank accounts overseen by his partner, only to then direct her to redistribute the money amongst himself and other associates in the ruse.
Jones's subterfuge also extended to property-related cons. Court documents allege that he engaged in bribery, influencing co-conspirators to acquire distressed properties, which he would then promote for city-funded rehabilitation. One such situation involved a dilapidated property on Superior Road, where Jones leveraged his council authority to pass ordinances that would channel city funds into this venture under the pretenses of nonprofit engagement and community benefit.
This former council member is also accused of manipulating transactions for personal gain. For instance, Jones orchestrated a real estate flip in which he misled a nonprofit into thinking they were purchasing directly from the original owner. In reality, he secretly arranged for his partner to buy the property for a nominal fee and then sell it at a significant markup to the unsuspecting organization. These maneuvers, while cleverly disguised as acts of civic duty, unjustly enriched Jones and his circle, according to the prosecution’s claims.
It is important to remember those charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The outcome for Jones will hinge upon a court review that will account for his past criminal record, if any, his role in the offense, and the nature of the violation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erica Barnhill and Elliot Morrison will prosecute the case for the Northern District of Ohio, following an investigation by the FBI Cleveland Division, HUD Office of Inspector General, and IRS – Criminal Investigation. For those seeking to report fraud, the U.S. Attorney's Office directs individuals to visit the Department of Justice's action center online.
