A former U.S. Army Sergeant First Class and military recruiter has admitted to using her position to steal the identities of recruits and candidate soldiers to defraud a credit union. U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced the guilty plea today.
Jane Crosby, 35, of Jersey City, New Jersey, pleaded guilty in Newark federal court to one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the fraudulent activity took place between September 2023 and December 2023. During this time, Crosby submitted “Pre-Active Duty Membership” bank account applications to a credit union on behalf of seven U.S. Army recruits or purported recruits without their knowledge or consent. These specialized accounts are designed to help soon-to-be service members set up direct deposits for their military salaries.
To open the accounts, Crosby used the victims’ names and Social Security numbers, and submitted copies of their passports, driver’s licenses, and Social Security cards. Once the credit union approved and opened the accounts, Crosby posed as the victims to apply for roughly $266,000 in loans and credit card accounts. She then used the accounts to deposit fraudulent checks and withdraw cash.
The bank fraud charge carries a maximum possible penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever amount is greater. The aggravated identity theft count carries a mandatory minimum term of two years in prison, which must be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed, along with a maximum fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Joel Kirch, with conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Kober of the Criminal Division in Newark is representing the government in the case.
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