Clark County Defendant Faces Federal Charges Of Credit Card, Wire Fraud

 NEW ALBANY – Joseph H. Hogsett, the United States Attorney, announced today that Jennifer D. Jekel, age 27, of Marysville, has been indicted by a federal grand jury with one count of access device fraud and four counts of wire fraud. This follows an investigation by the United States Secret Service and the New Albany Police Department.

“When Hoosiers steal from Hoosiers, we all lose – no matter if the theft takes place in a back alley or a back office,” Hogsett said. “That is why, together with our law enforcement partners, we are committed to doing all we can to hold accountable those who seek to enrich themselves by embracing a culture of corruption.”

The indictment alleges that between March 1, 2011 and October 10, 2011, Jekel fraudulently caused Fifth Third Bank to issue new credit cards linked to her employer without her employer’s knowledge and consent. She also allegedly had the bank increase the credit limits on existing credit card accounts. The defendant then allegedly used the credit cards and account numbers to make personal purchases with a total value of approximately $114,000.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd S. Shellenbarger, who is prosecuting the case for the government, Jekel faces up to ten years in federal prison on the access device fraud count and up to twenty years in federal prison on each of the wire fraud counts. She also faces years of federally-supervised release at the end of her prison term. An initial hearing is scheduled for Friday, December 27, before Magistrate Judge Michael Naville.

An Indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.