MILWAUKEE — Four people, including three former Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee employees, have been indicted on 15 federal charges after a years-long embezzlement scheme.
45-year-old Brandi Ellis, 51-year-old Jason Flanders, 45-year-old Ramon Hernandez, and 39-year-old Jezlia Barajas face charges of bank fraud, money laundering conspiracy, aggrevated identity theft, wire fraud, intimidating a witness, and making false statements.
Prosecutors allege that finance director Brandi Ellis and CFO Jason Flanders “issue[d] unauthorized checks to themselves and third parties on the non-profit’s bank accounts. The indictment also charges that Ellis used the non-profit’s credit cards to make personal purchases, including at Gucci and the Venetian/Palazzo in Las Vegas.”
In total, the four people involved allegedly embezzled nearly $2-million dollars from the non-profit.
Ellis is schedule to make her first appearance in court on February 20.
If convicted on all charges, each person faces up to 55 years in prison.
