Four Wisconsin Residents Charged with Fraud in Embezzlement Scheme

Brad D. Schimel, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on February 3, 2026, a federal grand jury indicted Brandi Ellis (45), Jason Flanders (51), Ramon Hernandez (45), and Jezlia Barajas (39), in a fifteen-count indictment related to an embezzlement scheme perpetrated against a Milwaukee-area non-profit.

According to the indictment, Ellis, the finance director of the non-profit, and Flanders, the non-profit’s Chief Financial Officer, engaged in a scheme to issue unauthorized checks to themselves and third parties on the non-profit’s bank accounts. The indictment also charges that Ellis used the non-profit’s credit cards to make personal purchases, including at Gucci and the Venetian/Palazzo in Las Vegas.

The Indictment charges Ellis with six counts of Bank Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344, one count of Money Laundering Conspiracy, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(h), one count of Aggravated Identity Theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A, two counts of Wire Fraud, in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Section 1343, and one count of Intimidation of a Witness, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1512.

The Indictment charges Flanders with three counts of Bank Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344, and one count of making False Statements, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001.

The Indictment charges Hernandez and Barajas each with one count of Bank Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344, and one count of Money Laundering Conspiracy, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(h).

If convicted of the Bank Fraud charges, each defendant faces up to 30 years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $1,000,000 per count. If convicted of the Wire Fraud, Money Laundering, or Intimidation charges, the defendants face up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $250,000. If convicted of the False Statement charge, Flanders faces up to 5 years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $250,000.

Four other individuals were charged in related cases, via Information, on the same day.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Julie F. Stewart.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove them guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.   

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For further information contact:

Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero                                                                                    

(414) 297-1700

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