A former reality television sheriff and volunteer firefighter from Indiana is facing a slew of felony charges, accused of stealing at least $5 million in taxpayer money and using it to fund vacations, luxury cars and even child support.
Jamey Noel, 52, who appeared on the A & E show “60 Days In” in 2016 and 2017, and his family allegedly stole the public funds as he served as both the Clark County Sheriff and the head of a local EMS service, according to Inside Edition.
He also allegedly ordered some of his subordinates to do work around his house as they were on the clock for the Sheriff’s Department, court documents say.
The former sheriff is now facing 15 felony charges for abusing his authority, and 10 more for theft and tax evasion.
His wife, Misty, 50, and daughter, Kasey, 27, are also facing theft and tax evasion charges for allegedly charging the Utica Township Volunteer Firefighters Association’s credit cards on expenses including tanning salons, plastic surgeries, vape products and Netflix subscriptions.
Meanwhile, investigators are now probing whether Noel may have also used public funds to buy a personal aircraft and what he may have done with $7 million in military surplus equipment and tools the sheriff’s office bought during his tenure.
“The investigation hasn’t slowed down since its inception,” Special Prosecutor Richard Heffel told Inside Edition, noting he’s “not even sure there is an end in sight.”
“The possibility for additional charges on Jamey is real,” he added.
State investigators first started probing Noel’s finances last year, after his successor, Sheriff Scottie Maples, found a hidden wiretap in the office of an assistant chief that “led directly” to Noel’s office.
Maples ordered a full review of the department, during which “more disturbing information” came to light, he said in a post following Noel’s arrest in November.
He said he soon discovered Noel “ordered several Clark County Sheriff’s Office employees to work and perform maintenance on his personal property, investment properties and business properties.
“These employees were instructed to conduct this work while being paid to work at the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.”
Additionally, Maples said he discovered paperwork that had been falsified and forged to award pension benefits to a deputy who did not deserve them — but happened to be one of Noel’s family members.
Investigators would later identify the former deputy as Noel’s brother-in-law, Bradley Kramer, according to Inside Edition.
Kramer has not been charged in the investigation, the outlet notes.
As part of an ensuing investigation, state police say they found Noel used the Utica Township Volunteer Firefighters Association’s credit cards on trips and luxurious clothes.
Between 2018 and 2019, Noel allegedly spent $200,000 on Marriott vacation programs charged to the Firefighters Association’s American Express, and in 2019, Noel and his wife took out more than $83,000 in loans for Marriott Vacation Club Destinations, making monthly payments from the nonprofit’s accounts, Louisville Public Media reports.
More than $100,000 from the fund was also spent on his daughter’s college tuition and other educational expenses, while another $56,000 was also spent at a cigar shop where Noel is known to be a regular customer, according to WHAS.
Other expenses include Tom James suits and Ferragamo shoes, which were seized from his house, and more than 130 luxury vehicles — including Corvettes, Cadillacs and a 1959 Chevy Bel-Air — which he is accused of selling then pocketing the money.
Noel even allegedly spent money from the jail’s commissary fund for personal use.
In one case, he allegedly bought a Bluebird bus for $12,000 with the commissary fund and titled it to the volunteer fire department, Louisville Public Media reported.
He then transferred it to the sheriff’s office days before his second term ended in 2022, and sold it to the department for $5,900 — a loss of $6,100 to the county.
Another nearly $1,400 in jail funds were also allegedly used to purchase a 75-inch television for his home.
The state has since ordered Noel to repay more than $918,000 to the jail’s commissary, according to Inside Edition.
In other court documents, Noel is accused of having an affair with a Clark County Council member, who gave birth to his child, Inside Edition reports.
He then allegedly used funds from the Volunteer Firefighters Association to pay court-ordered child support.
State investigators are now continuing to probe whether Noel used fire agency funds to buy a $25,000 1958 Cessna plane in 2022.
The plane’s registration listed Noel as its owner in 2022, but a year later, it was registered to the fire department, Inside Edition reports.
They are also looking into more than two dozen shipping containers, a forklift and even a train on private property.
They believe the equipment was all purchased by the sheriff’s department under Noel’s watch.
Noel and his family have pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and are now out on bail.
His case is expected to go to trial later this year.
The Post has reached out to attorneys for each of the family members for comment.