A former TV star sheriff in southern Indiana is facing 25 criminal charges after allegedly stealing government money and spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on vacations, expensive cigars, and plastic surgery.
Authorities accused Jamey Noel, 52, his wife Misty, 50, and daughter Kasey, 27, of spending up to $5 million on credit cards Mr. Noel issued in the name of the charity fire department he operated.
Search warrants found that the trio had spent more than $300,000 on holidays and travel, $200,000 on tuition and college expenditures, $56,000 on cigars, and $25,000 on a tiny airplane. They also face accusations of spending money on cosmetic operations, tanning, apparel, and vape items.
Over the course of five years, the three family members have been accused of obtaining more than $3.5 million in income, items, and services that they did not record on their tax filings.
Mr. Noel is facing additional individual accusations for allegedly purchasing over 100 expensive cars with public cash and selling them for a personal profit, as well as utilizing his former subordinates as personal errand men and handymen in his private homes during work hours.
Meanwhile, court filings accuse him of having an affair and impregnating Clark County Council member Brittney Ferree, who bore his child.
Prosecutors allege that Mr. Noel used money from the Volunteer Firefighters Association to pay court-ordered child support.
All three family members have pleaded not guilty.
In court files, prosecutors said that the family refused to comply with investigators.
Sheriff Noel gained prominence after appearing on Season One of the A&E show 60 Days In, in which the Clark County prison critically investigated its rules and treatment of convicts after volunteers were imprisoned undercover for 60 days.
He worked as a state trooper for 22 years until becoming sheriff in 2015, according to Inside Edition.
Mr. Noel also served as chairman of the county’s Republican Party and the Utica Township Volunteer Firefighters Association.
But his life as a public servant came crumbling down last year when Indiana State Police investigators began looking into his money, resulting in his arrest in November.
Initially, authorities charged him with 15 offenses, but they later added 10 more charges for theft and tax evasion.
During the investigation, police issued 50 search warrants on the family’s house and cars, discovering thousands of dollars in expensive clothing, including Tom James suits and Ferragamo shoes purchased with the fire nonprofit’s credit cards, as well as two firearms.
Meanwhile, in March, officials recovered 26 shipping containers containing $7 million in missing military surplus equipment, which state police say belonged to the sheriff’s department and had been secreted by Mr. Noel during his tenure.
Later this year, Jamey Noel’s case will go to trial.
