MOBILE, AL – Jonathan Jernigan, formerly the financial manager for Children’s Medical Group, is facing the consequences of a brazen scheme to siphon over $190,000 for personal use. Jernigan was sentenced to five years of probation on June 6, 2017, by United States District Court Senior Judge William H. Steele, and ordered to repay the full amount he stole.
The fraud came to light when Children’s Medical Group attempted a legitimate purchase – vaccines – only to find their credit card declined. A subsequent internal investigation revealed a pattern of unauthorized charges and withdrawals stretching back an undisclosed period. Jernigan abused his position, using both the company credit card and bank accounts as a personal piggy bank.
Details uncovered during the audit paint a vivid picture of Jernigan’s spending. Investigators found charges totaling $8,794, $7,570, and $3,340 at Diamonds Men’s Club in Mobile, Alabama – a clear indication of how the stolen funds were being squandered. The total loss exceeded $190,000, a significant blow to the medical practice.
Federal investigators from the United States Secret Service (USSS), working in conjunction with the Mobile Police Department, pieced together the evidence leading to Jernigan’s conviction. The USSS, typically known for protecting national leaders, has a long history of investigating financial crimes that impact the nation’s economic infrastructure.
Jernigan was charged with wire fraud in violation of 18 USC § 1343. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Baugh prosecuted the case for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama, securing the conviction and sentence. The five-year probationary period will hang over Jernigan as he attempts to repay the stolen funds.
While Jernigan avoided prison time, the case serves as a stark reminder that even those in positions of trust are not immune to prosecution for financial wrongdoing. The US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama and the USSS continue to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of these types of offenses, seeking to hold accountable those who exploit their positions for personal gain.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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