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Investigations

Date

Ohio Individual Sentenced for Conspiracy, Theft, and Motor Coach Fraud

On May 31, 2022, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio sentenced Derrick L. Jones to 54 months of incarceration, 36 months of supervised release, and $22,002 in restitution. In January 2022, Jones pleaded guilty to conspiracy, interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle, wire fraud, and violations related to commercial motor vehicle safety regulations. The investigation revealed that from approximately 2003 to 2019, Jones conspired to steal charter buses, alter and disguise those buses, and market—under a variety of purported tour company names—charter bus transportation services using the stolen buses. Jones did so without registering the charter transportation providers with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) or obtaining FMCSA operating authority.
 
DOT-OIG conducted this investigation with FMCSA, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Michigan State Police, Goodlettsville Police Department, Toledo Police Department, Pontiac Police Department, City of Taylor Police Department, Erie Police Department, and Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.