Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

SOUTH BEND – United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, David Capp, announced a 13 count indictment against Gregory Brown, 36, and Shakyia Bunch, 30, of Chicago, Illinois along with Jeneva Sutton, 31, of Michigan City, Indiana for wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and unauthorized access device fraud.

Brown and Bunch were charged in all 13 counts of the indictment whereas Sutton was charged with 7 counts of wire fraud, 2 counts of aggravated identity theft and 1 count of unauthorized access device fraud.

According to documents filed in this case, from April through July of 2016, Gregory Brown was an inmate at the La Porte County Jail while Shakyia Bunch was employed at a hotel in the Northern District of Illinois and Jeneva Sutton maintained a residence in the Northern District of Indiana. It is alleged that Brown proposed to other inmates in the La Porte County Jail that he would secure their release through payment of their respective bond amounts if those inmates would repay him. Bunch allegedly stole credit card account numbers from the hotel where she was employed from individuals who had provided credit card information in order to book stays at the hotel. Sutton allegedly obtained stolen credit card account numbers from Bunch. Bunch and Sutton were alleged to have used the internet to effect wire transfers of money using the stolen credit card account numbers to pay for various inmates’ bonds. Eight wire transactions were effected using four different account holders’ credit card account information. Sutton was to receive payment via money or property from inmates who had been released from the La Porte County Jail or from individuals associated with inmates who had been released or were seeking release. Through this scheme and through use of the stolen credit card account numbers, the defendants obtained a Chrysler 300 vehicle.

The United States Attorney's Office emphasized that an Indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty in court.

If convicted in court, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

This case was investigated as a result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; La Porte County Sheriff’s Office; and Michigan City Police Department. This case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Molly E. Donnelly. 

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