Julie Michelle Shuler, Taylor Skiey Bradham, Mail Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft, Florida 2025

Former Contractors for Florida Prepaid College Program Indicted for Mail Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft

Tallahassee, FL - In a shocking turn of events, Julie Michelle Shuler, 32, and Taylor Skiey Bradham, 26, both of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft.

The pleas were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. According to court documents, Shuler and Bradham worked for the company contracted to provide customer service and records administration service for the Florida Prepaid College Program.

The women used their positions to fraudulently access and view the personal identifying information (PII) of Florida Prepaid College Program account owners and beneficiaries. They then used and conspired to use such PII to fraudulently change ownership of existing Florida Prepaid College Program contracts and plans without the authorization or knowledge of the account owners or beneficiaries.

Shuler and Bradham then fraudulently took over control, and conspired to take over control, of such accounts to request termination of those contracts. By canceling the contracts, Shuler and Bradham caused refund checks to be mailed by the Florida Prepaid College Program to addresses that they designated. Once the checks were delivered, Shuler and Bradham, and others working at their direction, cashed or deposited the checks into bank accounts.

In doing so, Shuler and Bradham stole or attempted to steal approximately $86,000 in Florida Prepaid College Program funds. They face up to twenty years' imprisonment, and three years of supervision upon release, for conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Shuler faces up to twenty years' imprisonment, and three years of supervision upon release, for each of the mail fraud counts.

Shuler and Bradham also face a mandatory term of two years' imprisonment consecutive to any other sentence of incarceration, and up to one year of supervised release upon release, for aggravated identity theft.

The case involved a joint investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen.

Shuler's sentencing is scheduled for August 6, 2025, at 10:00 am, and Bradham's sentencing is scheduled for September 15, 2025, at 9:00 am, at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl/pr/former-contractors-florida-prepaid-college-program-plead-guilty-fraud-and-aggravated