Mejean Couple, Wire Fraud, Indiana 2023

INDIANAPOLIS - A Sullivan County trustee and his wife have been sentenced for their role in stealing over $124,400 from the county in a wire fraud scheme.

Frank Mejean, 53, and his wife Antonnette Mejean, 49, both of Carlisle, Indiana were sentenced in federal court today by U.S. District Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson. Frank was sentenced to six months in federal prison and Antonnette received three years of probation after being convicted of wire fraud.

Frank Mejean served as the elected trustee of Jefferson Township, in Sullivan County from 2009 to 2013. Antonnette was employed as the township clerk and township investigator who also was awarded a lawn maintenance contract serving Jefferson Township.

"This is yet another case of public officials serving themselves and not the public by stealing money from the poor and the disabled," said Josh J. Minkler, Acting United States Attorney. "It is about as low as you can get."

According to court testimony, the government proved that the pair engaged in a scheme to defraud Sullivan County by overpaying their salaries every year as well as overcompensating Antonnette Mejean for the lawn maintenance contract. The two submitted false financial documents to the State Board of Accounts to cover up their improper expenditures.

The total salary overpayments for Frank Mejean's salary were approximately $34,033, while Antonnette's salary overpayments totaled approximately $9,869. Antonnette was also overpaid $19,624 for the lawn maintenance contract from 2009 through 2011.

The pair also wrote several checks from the township account to pay for personal and business expenses on Frank Mejean Plumbing, a company owned by the couple. In total, the Mejeans stole over $124,400 from Sullivan County.

This case is the result of outstanding law enforcement work by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Indiana State Board of Accounts, the Indiana State Police and the Internal Revenue Service. Frank Mejean will serve three years of supervised release after his sentence. Anyone with information on public corruption is encouraged to contact the U.S. Attorney's office at (317)229-2443.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/pr/united-states-attorney-s-office-announces-sentence-sullivan-county-trustee-fraud-case