FORMER CONTRACTORS FOR THE FLORIDA PREPAID COLLEGE PROGRAM S...

Tallahassee, FLORIDA - Julie Michelle Shuler, 32, and Taylor Skiey Bradham, 26, both of Tallahassee, Florida, were sentenced to 36 months and seven months in federal prison, respectively, after previously pleading guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. Shuler was also sentenced to prison for four counts of mail fraud. The sentences were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: "These defendants sought to exploit Florida parents' investments in their children's futures for their own personal gain, but thanks to the diligent collaboration between my office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, their profiteering scheme has been dismantled and a prison cell awaits them."

Court documents reflect that Shuler and Bradham worked for the company contracted to provide customer service and records administration service for the Florida Prepaid College Program. According to court records, Shuler and Bradham used their positions to fraudulently access and view the personal identifying information (PII) of Florida Prepaid College Program account owners and beneficiaries. Records show that the women 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.

"These defendants targeted students pursuing their education and, stole money intended to pay for college," said Bladismir Rojo, Acting Inspector in Charge, Miami Division. "The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is relentless in pursuing anyone who exploits the financial system to steal money from unsuspecting victims."

After their imprisonment, Shuler and Bradham will be required to serve three years of supervision upon their release. Both defendants were also ordered to pay restitution to the Florida Prepaid College Program and its insurance carrier.

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

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation's principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.