Former Census Bureau Official Pleads Guilty to Kickback Scheme Involving Millions in Contracts

A former supervisory official at the U.S. Census Bureau has admitted to federal charges in a scheme that involved steering lucrative contracts and receiving substantial kickbacks. According to information released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, Camille T. Jones, 47, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery and honest services fraud. The case highlights a procurement fraud scheme that resulted in approximately $790,000 in illicit payments.

The scheme, as detailed in court documents, involved Jones using her official position to benefit a prime contractor and a specific subcontractor, YMJ Consulting. This company is owned by a relative of Jones, Yolanda M. Jones. Camille Jones admitted to influencing the award of a significant employee assistance program contract, valued in the millions of dollars, to this entity. In return for this preferential treatment and subsequent contract modifications, Jones received kickbacks from YMJ Consulting and Yolanda Jones. The court filings indicate that Yolanda Jones has also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery and honest services fraud and is awaiting sentencing.

In an effort to conceal her illicit activities, Camille Jones allegedly attempted to obstruct the investigation by creating a falsified service agreement. This agreement was between YMJ Consulting and a mental health company that Jones herself owned. The intention was to make the kickbacks appear as legitimate consulting fees exchanged between the two companies. The agreement was purportedly signed by both Camille Jones and Yolanda Jones in 2024 but was backdated to 2020, and Yolanda Jones later presented this document to law enforcement during the inquiry.

Beyond the kickback scheme, Camille Jones is also accused of misusing her official capacity to provide confidential procurement information to another government contractor. This contractor, in turn, provided preferential treatment to Jones by hiring another relative of hers for a job that reportedly involved minimal work. Despite this, the relative received $83,000 for the position, with Jones herself largely carrying out the duties.

Camille Jones faces a potential maximum penalty of five years in prison. Her sentencing is scheduled for July 16. The investigation was commended by U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes, who noted the efforts of the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan S. McKoy and Acting Chief Edward P. Sullivan of the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section are prosecuting the case. Residents seeking to report fraud can find additional resources on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office website.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland

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