A former employee of the Department of Education was acquitted of all charges related to alleged fraudulent activities within the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program. Dorrian Jones, who faced multiple counts including conspiracy and forgery, stood trial alongside Jennifer Lopez and Delores Lashay Sweet, both of whom reached plea agreements. The case centered on claims that the trio created ESA accounts for real and fictitious children using forged documents, resulting in illicit payouts exceeding $600,000 between October 2021 and November 2023.

Jones was the only defendant to go to trial after Lopez cooperated with the state, while Sweet and her children also opted for plea deals. The trial, which lasted two weeks, was characterized by contentious testimonies, particularly between Jones and Lopez. A lack of corroborating witnesses from the ESA department prompted Jones’ defense attorney, Adam Feldman, to question the prosecution’s strategy. He asserted that without testimonies from ESA employees, the case was constructed to fail.

Feldman articulated that the prosecution’s approach was bizarre, as the entire case revolved around the ESA program yet they did not call any of its personnel to the stand. This led him to file a motion to exclude their testimonies based on the state’s decision not to call them as witnesses. “I wanted to know all aspects of ESA to confirm or refute anything my client was telling me,” he told jurors.

During the trial, Jones portrayed himself as a diligent employee grappling with complex reimbursement requests, while Feldman sought to challenge Lopez’s credibility. He drew attention to her involvement in the creation of fraudulent accounts, which allegedly netted her around $200,000. Despite claims from the state that Jones exploited his position, the jury ultimately delivered a not guilty verdict on February 27.

In parallel legal proceedings, Sweet’s adult children, Jadakah Celeste Johnson and Raymond Lamont Johnson Jr., entered guilty pleas for their roles in the scheme. They received probation and were ordered to repay nearly $200,000. Sweet, who also pleaded guilty, faces 2.5 years in prison and must contribute to the restitution total of $614,352 alongside her co-defendants. Meanwhile, Lopez awaits sentencing for her role, which could lead to probation and substantial financial penalties.