Democrat Dirty Laundry: Alcee Hastings’ Aide Convicted in Fraud Scheme

SPIN CYCLE: Then-Speaker Pelosi Promised that Democrats Would “Demand the Highest Ethics from Every Public Servant”:

“Our goal is to restore accountability, honesty and openness at all levels of government. To do so, we will create and enforce rules that demand the highest ethics from every public servant, sever unethical ties between lawmakers and lobbyists, and establish clear standards that prevent the trading of official business for gifts.” (Nancy Pelosi’s “A New Direction for America,” Page 21)

RINSE CYCLE: An aide to Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL), himself an impeached federal judge, was convicted in a federal court of using a fraudulent business loan to pay credit card bills and buy basketball tickets:

“Mikel D. Jones, a longtime Palm Beach County aide to U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar, was found guilty today by a federal jury of scheming to defraud a New York venture capital fund that helped finance Jones’ private law firm.

“Jones, 55, who lives in Boynton Beach, received a $78,578 salary in 2010 as a top local aide to Hastings while also running a personal injury law firm in Philadelphia.

“Jones was convicted of conspiracy, money laundering, 14 counts of wire fraud and 14 counts of mail fraud. His wife, Dona Nichols Jones, 54, was convicted of conspiracy, money laundering, and 14 counts of wire fraud.

…

“After Jones was charged in May, Hastings said he suspended his aide but did not say whether Jones was still being paid.

“Hastings in July called Jones a ‘top-flight congressional aide’ and ‘my friend,’ but said the charges against Jones had nothing to do with his congressional office and he knew nothing about them.

“Today Hastings issued this terse statement:

“‘Today, I learned that Mikel Jones was found guilty of certain charges against in him in the United States District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He is no longer employed by my Congressional office.’

“According to the FBI, Jones obtained a the line of credit from New York-based lender Stillwater for business expenses associated with his law firm. But the FBI said Jones and his wife used a shell company and fraudulent invoices to obtain more than $350,000 for nonexistent expenses. The FBI said the couple ‘used the fraudulently taken business-loan funds to pay off personal credit card debts and to buy 76ers basketball tickets.’” (George Bennett, “Aide To Rep. Alcee Hastings Convicted Of Conspiracy, Fraud, Money Laundering; Lawyer Vows Appeal,” Palm Beach Post, 11/07/2011)