LOS ANGELES – A woman, who is already charged with a $15 million bank fraud and bankruptcy fraud, was indicted on Friday on new charges for soliciting money while her trial on the bank-fraud charges is pending, officials said.
Carolyn Marie Jones, 51, of Corona, who was the Chief Executive Officer of a high-end denim jean company, was charged in an indictment returned by the grand jury late Friday afternoon.
A seven-count indictment charges wire fraud and contempt, alleging that Jones defrauded victims in an investment fraud scheme.
Jones allegedly convinced investors to invest with her by representing that she was operating a clothing company called Premium Management and needed money to close a securities deal and for other business-related expenses, officials said.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, officials said.
The indictment alleges that Jones spent the money on her own personal expenses.
Jones, who was on bond pending a September 23 trial in the bank and bankruptcy fraud case, was prohibited from soliciting money from investors while the trial is pending.
The new indictment also alleges that Jones failed to disclose to investors that she was under indictment and was prohibited from soliciting money. Jones is now being held in custody pending trial.
In a nineteen count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in September 2013, Jones was the Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Decisions, Inc., which sold denim jeans marketed under the labels of Privacywear and PRVCY Premium.
According to that indictment, Jones obtained a $15 million business line of credit from Union Bank, using fake financial statements and fake tax returns. The indictment states that Jones gave the bank a Social Security Number that belonged to someone else. Jones also hid from the bank that she had filed for bankruptcy previously and that she had a felony record.
Jones defaulted on the $15 million loan after a year causing Union Bank to file a lawsuit in state court. When Union Bank tried to seize the contents of the Diamond Decisions warehouse, Jones caused the company to file for bankruptcy and hid assets from the bankruptcy trustee, according to the indictment.
Jones faces up to 80 years on the wire fraud and contempt indictment. Jones also faces up to 489 years in federal prison on the bank and bankruptcy fraud indictment.
Jones is presumed innocent until and if proven guilty.