Jersey city woman admits to scheme to steal money from new jersey city university student government organization
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
February 3, 2011 |
NEWARK, N.J. – A Jersey City, N.J., woman pleaded guilty today to participating in a scheme to steal federally-subsidized funds from the New Jersey City University (“NJCU”), U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Kimberly Jackson, 39, pleaded guilty to an Information charging her with conspiring to steal from an organization receiving federal benefits. The defendant entered her guilty plea before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
Jackson admitted that she agreed with the office manager for NJCU Student Government Organization (“SGO”) and the office manger’s husband – Shaunette and Alexander Moody – to steal funds from NJCU by endorsing unauthorized checks provided to her by the Moodys and drawn on the SGO bank account. In total, from May 7, 2007, through June 25, 2010, Jackson personally endorsed and negotiated 18 unauthorized SGO checks for approximately $36,201. Jackson acknowledged that she provided these funds to Alexander Moody, who gave her a cut of the illegal proceeds.
The conspiracy charge to which Jackson pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gain or loss from the offense. In addition to any other sentence imposed, Jackson agreed to pay restitution to NJCU. Sentencing is scheduled for May 10, 2011.
Shaunette and Alexander Moody each pleaded guilty to money laundering and theft charges in December 2010, admitting to stealing over $500,000. Charges against two additional co-defendants, Arsenio Willey and Curtis Shearer, remain pending.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of IRS – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Victor W. Lessoff; and special agents of the U.S. Department of Education, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian Hickey for the Northeast Region, for the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall H. Cook of the United States Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
The charges and allegations made in the Complaint against Willey and Shearer are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Defense counsel: Robert Olejar, Esq., Randolph, N.J.
