Dallas Police Officer Raised $ 48,000 Through ‘Circle of Blessing’ Pyramid Scheme

Affidavit: Dallas Police Officer Raised $ 48,000 in “Blessing Circle” Pyra
Police said the officer who organized the pyramid scheme admitted he was leading what he called a “blessing circle.”
DALLAS – Police said the officer who organized the pyramid scheme admitted he was leading what he called a “blessing circle.”
After a year-long investigation, the accused officer now faces a felony. In addition, an internal investigation revealed that a dozen other DPD agents were involved.
Dallas Police say their own officer Reginald Jones, 58, is accused of organizing a pyramid promotion program.
Constable Jones has worked for the Dallas Police Department for 19 years.
Dallas Police have revealed that 13 other officers and a civilian employee are believed to have participated in and promoted the pyramid scheme.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit, the Dallas PD was alerted a year ago that Agent Jones “was recruiting individuals to pay participants money and then recruit new participants to receive money. money back “.
In an interview with detectives earlier this year, Jones said participants would pay for “$ 100, $ 500 or $ 1,400 in ‘gift circles’ via Cash App.”
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Criminal defense attorney Russell Wilson is not associated with this case.
âThis is not new money. There is no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow,â he said.
Wilson views Jones’s explanation to the police as a manual pyramid scheme that would eventually give way.
âThere is a theme. So here the theme is that you receive blessings,â Wilson explained. âAnd to receive a blessing, you have to give a blessing. But you get your blessing four or five times. So if you put in $ 100, later when you’re blessed, you might get $ 500.â
According to the affidavit, the participants “would also bring in at least two new people to be blessed by eight people.”
After searching Jones’ cell phone, detectives discovered Jones was trying to recruit civilians while on duty.
In total, the affidavit states that Jones’ program transferred $ 48,000 and recruited 159 participants.
Police said more than a dozen participants were fellow Jones’s in the South-Central Patrol Division at Oak Cliff, several of them from senior ranks.
âThey seem lucrative,â Wilson said. “When committed by people of authority, people are often willing to engage with this trust factor.”
Dallas Police issued an arrest warrant for Jones last week. He surrendered and bonded.
It is still unclear whether the dozen officers will face charges and what charges.
All the agents involved are all on administrative leave.
Jones faces six months to two years in prison.