PINELLAS COUNTY, FL -- According to this contract Chris Jones promised to provide a dentist dozens of radio advertisements on his no longer existent Sports Rap Show and season tickets to Bucs games in exchange for $4,200.
The dentist’s Marketing Manager Sue Porter says Jones was slick. “He had Buccaneer information, told me about his past history playing with Dan Marino and how advertising could help the business.”
The dentist is just one of 17 small business owners Jones is accused of swindling since 2005. According to the arrest affidavit the 47-year-old repeatedly lied about his connection with the Buccaneers and about his being a former NFL player in order to sell $5,000 advertising packages to professionals like Mortgage Broker Jenny Esno. “He has such a tight rapport with these players and they look to him for business guidance and there was no way I was not going to get business from it.”
The Pinellas County State Attorneys Office, the FBI and several other local law enforcement agencies spent close to a year investigating Jones. ABC Action News also provided information that aided their case.
Jones made his first appearance in court on Wednesday. “I am asking please if you can work with my bond a little bit.”
Jones is facing two felony counts of scheming to defraud. He and his girlfriend, Andetra Salter, are also charged with grand theft for what happened at the Point of U furniture store in St. Pete Beach. Owner Jeff Janson says Salter pretended to be the wife of Buccaneer Jermain Phillips and Jones acted as a family representative in an attempt to get 10 grand worth of free furniture. “With all of his contacts he could get us Bucs tickets, radio time.”
The victims we spoke with including Janson feel there is no better place for Jones than a jail cell. “Absolutely it is exactly where he should be.”
By judge's order Jones was to spend five days in jail on a contempt of court charge before he will be eligible to post the $157,000 bond.
