United States Attorney's Office

Northern District of Florida

FARM CARETAKER CHARGED WITH THEFT FROM EMPLOYER

Tallahassee, Florida – Gregory R. Miller, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced today that a Federal Grand Jury sitting in Tallahassee has returned an Indictment charging Jeanine Elise Marie Mosier, 43, of Lee, Florida, with nineteen counts of using wire communications facilities to execute a scheme to defraud her employer, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343.

The Indictment alleges that between December 30, 2005, and July 11, 2007, Mosier was hired to handle and oversee day-to-day financial activities for a farm in Madison, Florida. Pursuant to those duties, Mosier had signatory access to a caretaker bank account for the farm for the payment of daily expenses and bills relating to routine activities and services for the farm. The Indictment further charges that, without the knowledge or consent of the victim, Mosier:

1. stole from the victim’s farm residence numerous blank checks, drawn on a bank account of the Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Anchorage, Alaska;

2. forged approximately 24 Wells Fargo checks, made them payable to the victim, forged the signature and endorsement of the victim on each check, and deposited the checks into the farm’s caretaker bank account; and

3. based upon the deposit of the forged Wells Fargo checks, issued more than one hundred forty-four (144) checks from the farm’s caretaker bank account made payable to herself, or to various businesses, entities, or persons for services or miscellaneous items obtained by the defendant.

The Indictment further alleges that the fraud executed by Mosier against her employer involved more than $585,000.00.

Mosier was arrested by agents of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation this morning in Madison County, Florida on a federal warrant issued based upon the Indictment. This afternoon, Mosier made her initial appearance in Federal Court before Chief United States Magistrate Judge William C. Sherrill, Jr. in Tallahassee, and was arraigned on the charges. Mosier pled not guilty, and her trial was scheduled on January 22, 2008.

Mosier faces a maximum penalty of thirty years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine on each of the wire fraud counts, as well as the forfeiture of any real or personal property she obtained from her fraudulent scheme.

Mr. Miller commended the efforts of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating these offenses. This case is being prosecuted Assistant United States Attorney Stephen M. Kunz.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

For additional information, contact Alan Sprowls at (850) 942-8430.