U.S. Attorney's Office, Texas, Southern, "Prolific fraudster sentenced to 10 years for series of schemes costing victims millions" (April 24, 2025)

Summary

Press release of April 24, 2025 from the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas, issued from Houston, reporting that a 39-year-old Manvel resident who pleaded guilty Feb. 4 was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal to 120 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release and $1,974,145.63 in restitution to four victims. From July 2020 to May 2021 he submitted four false Paycheck Protection Program loan applications claiming millions in revenue and wages for more than 20 employees, supported by fabricated tax returns and bank statements, causing losses of approximately $480,000. While awaiting trial he was found to have defrauded a federal credit union through sham home improvement loans, made false statements for a VA-backed loan and falsely claimed disabled veteran status for property tax relief.

Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used

Full text

HOUSTON – A 39-year-old Manvel resident who used his veteran status to perpetuate several financial crimes has been ordered to federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Antonio Jackson Jr. pleaded guilty Feb. 4.

U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal has now ordered Jackson to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. The court also ordered Jackson to pay a total of $1,974,145.63 in restitution to four different victims.

At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence about the various methods Jackson used to exploit his victims, including creating fake companies, submitting bogus tax records and even faking signatures of government officials and copying official government seals and emblems. In handing down the sentence, Judge Rosenthal highlighted Jackson’s wide-ranging criminal conduct and his ongoing commitment to defrauding both public and private victims. The court also noted that Jackson exploited his brief stint in the U.S. Army, which ended in a court-martial, as a way to deceive others under the guise of service.

From July 2020 to May 2021, Jackson submitted four false Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications. He claimed his business earned millions in revenue and paid hundreds of thousands in wages to more than 20 employees. In reality, Jackson fabricated tax returns, bank statements and other business records to support his false claims. The scheme resulted in losses of approximately $480,000.

While awaiting trial, authorities uncovered three additional schemes Jackson committed. As part of his plea agreement, he admitted to defrauding a Washington D.C.-based federal credit union through a series of scam home improvement loans. Jackson also made false statements to obtain a Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA)-backed loan. In addition, he defrauded Brazoria County taxpayers by falsely claiming disabled veteran status to receive property tax relief on his Manvel residence.

He will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Small Business Administration and the Department of Veteran’s Affairs- Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation with the assistance of several local police departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Swartz and Thomas Carter prosecuted the case.

File and source

File

doj-usao-sdtx-press-release-prolific-fraudster-sentenced-10-years-series-schemes-costing-2025-04-24.json

Size

3,310 bytes

SHA-256

bad2af8fcd9902b59576020317850087510bccce0e0329541608d3c53ee27840

Our copy

doj-usao-sdtx-press-release-prolific-fraudster-sentenced-10-years-series-schemes-costing-2025-04-24.json

Original

www.justice.gov