Former Census Bureau Program Manager Pleads Guilty to Kickback Scheme

Greenbelt, Maryland - A former supervisory official with the U.S. Census Bureau pled guilty in federal court today, to conspiring with a subcontractor to receive $790,000 in kickbacks.

Camille T. Jones, 47, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, is charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and honest services fraud in connection with a procurement fraud scheme.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva, Department of Justice Criminal Division, and Special Agent in Charge Eric Arcand, U.S. Department of Commerce Office of the Inspector General (DOC-OIG).

According to court documents, as part of her guilty plea, Camille Jones admitted that she steered a large employee assistant program contract to a prime contractor and a subcontracting company, YMJ Consulting, which is owned by Camille Jones's relative, Yolanda M. Jones. The contract was worth millions of dollars. In exchange for steering the contract and modifications, Jones received kickbacks from YMJ Consulting and Yolanda Jones.

Additionally, Camille Jones attempted to obstruct the investigation by drafting a service agreement between YMJ Consulting and a mental health company that she owned to make the kickbacks appear like legitimate consulting payments between the two companies. Both Camille Jones and Yolanda Jones signed the agreement in 2024 but backdated it to 2020. Yolanda Jones then provided the document to law enforcement during the investigation.

Camille Jones further admitted that she used her official position to share the Census Bureau's confidential procurement information with another government contractor. While receiving preferential treatment, the contractor hired another one of Camille Jones's relatives for a minimal-work job. Camille Jones largely performed the work but the relative received $83,000.

Sentencing is scheduled for Thursday, July 16, at 10:30 a.m. Camille Jones faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Additionally, on August 14, 2025, Yolanda Jones pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery and honest services fraud. She is awaiting sentencing. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DOC-OIG for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan S. McKoy and Acting Chief Edward P. Sullivan, DOJ Criminal Division Public Integrity Section, who are prosecuting the case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.

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