An alleged scheme to bond inmates out of the LaPorte County Jail using stolen credit card accounts has resulted in federal charges against three people, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Court documents indicate 36-year-old Gregory Brown of Chicago was an inmate at the LaPorte County Jail. Between April and July of 2016, he allegedly offered to secure the release of other inmates through payment of their respective bond amounts if those inmates would repay him.
That payment was allegedly made with credit card numbers stolen by 30-year-old Shakyia Bunch of Chicago from guests at the Illinois hotel where she was working.
She and 31-year-old Jeneva Sutton of Michigan City allegedly used the internet to make wire transfers with the stolen cards to secure bond for the inmates. Authorities say eight wire transfers were made using four different account holders’ credit card account information.
In exchange for his services, Sutton was to receive payment from the inmates or their associates via money or property. Investigators say that’s how the defendants obtained a Chrysler 300 vehicle.
The three defendants all face multiple charges of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and unauthorized access device fraud.
