National Football League

Saints assistant suspended for role in scam

Published Aug. 30, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

New Orleans Saints assistant defensive line coach Travis Jones was suspended 30 days without pay for his admitted role in a real estate scam involving at least 40 people in northwestern Texas.

General manager Mickey Loomis said Monday the suspension will begin immediately.

''Coach Jones has accepted responsibility for his actions and has cooperated with the investigation of this matter and will also be participating in a program to educate others in the league about his experience,'' Loomis said in a written statement. ''The actions of Travis Jones violate the NFL's personal conduct policy and the policies and standards of conduct for employees of the New Orleans Saints.''

In June, Jones entered a plea of conspiracy to commit mail fraud in U.S. District Court in Texas' Eastern District. Court records show he also signed a factual statement admitting his role in the alleged scam, which netted him about $86,000.

Jones allegedly was among numerous people who made false statements on loan applications and other real estate documents in order to obtain mortgage loans in a scam allegedly run by Florida resident John Barry.

The loans were used to buy properties that were sold for more than market value, with kickbacks going to the scam's participants - which included appraisers, mortgage brokers and real estate agents - before the buyers walked away and allowed the banks to foreclose. The scam cost lenders millions of dollars.

Jones is entering his sixth season in the NFL and third year with the Saints, following three years with the Dolphins. Before joining the Dolphins, he was a defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at LSU from 2003-04 under then-coach Nick Saban.

Jones played in college for Georgia and had a brief pro playing career with the Baltimore Stallions of the CFL in 1995 and the Florida Bobcats of the AFL in 1996. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Georgia in 1997.