LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Jamey Noel - the former southern Indiana sheriff facing numerous felony charges - racked up nearly $5 million on business credit cards for personal use, according to new court documents released Monday.
Indiana State Police investigators gave probable cause statements last week for three new search warrants related to the investigation of the former Clark County sheriff. Noel is facing 15 felony charges, including counts of corrupt business practices, ghost employment, official misconduct, theft and tax evasion.
Nearly $5 million charged to business card
According the court documents, Noel possesses multiple American Express credit cards, one of which is a business card associated with the Utica Township Volunteer Firefighters Association, which Noel runs.
Between October 2018 and November 2023, charges totaling $730,992.93 were made to the Business Gold Card account. Charges appear "personal" in nature, according to the documents, including charges made at department stores, cigar stands and jewelry stores.
The probable cause statement also cited 83 payments made on other cards registered under the volunteer firefighters association between 2018 and 2023 totaling $4.1 million. Those charges were paid to "seamstresses, home supply warehouse stores, department stores, cigar stores, jewelry, ticketed events and travel agents."
"Charges...appear to fund personal and household expenses, which is an unusual pattern of spending for an open business card associated with a non-profit and raises concerns about misuse," an American Express summary said after ISP troopers sent the credit card company a subpoena.
The investigation is also trying to determine whether Jamey Noel and his wife, Misty, used association funds to pay their personal utility bills. Last week, the special prosecutor on this case said in court the state is prepared to bring charges against Misty, although it's not clear what specific charges are being pursued.
Noel's attorney could not be reached for comment Monday.
Relationship with former councilwoman
A second probable cause statement released Monday involved Noel's relationship with former Clark County Councilwoman Brittney Ferree, with whom Noel fathered a child and made child support payments to with firefighter association funds.
Investigators interviewed Ferree on Dec. 28 and she told them she was attracted to and participated in a romantic relationship with Noel. She accompanied him on two trips to New Orleans while Noel was on business for the sheriff's department or fire department.
According to documents, Ferree admitted to approving funding bills as part of her duties as a member of Clark County Council for New Chapel EMS while she was romantically involved with Noel, who is the CEO of New Chapel EMS.
ISP Lt. Jeffrey Hearon, the lead investigator on the case, said in the probable cause statement he anticipates providing the special prosecutor with additional information regarding "potential additional charges," but it's not clear what those charges are or who they could be filed against.
Effort to qualify relative for higher pension
WHAS11 previously reported part of the investigation was into whether or not Noel gave a pension to a family member who was not eligible to receive it. In the third probable cause statement released Monday, the alleged specifics of that scheme were revealed.
Noel reportedly promoted this family member to Clark County Matron in 2018, a position that was eligible for a pension. Then in 2020, two applications were submitted to the sheriff's office for an eight-year pension. The head of human resources for the sheriff's office confirmed the first application appeared legitimate and the second one was altered.
The head of HR said the second application was altered to say the family member had been Clark County Matron since 1/1/2015, which was Noel's first day as sheriff.
WHAS11 is not naming the family member because they haven't been officially charged, however, we confirmed the person is no longer an employee of the sheriff's office or Clark County.
Case background
The investigation into Jamey Noel started when authorities believed Noel instructed Clark County jail employees to work on his personal and rental properties, and run errands for him while working on county time and being compensated with public funds.
Noel's vast automobile collection has also come under scrutiny by investigators.
According to court documents, 133 vehicles are registered to the Utica Township Volunteer Fire Department and New Chapel EMS. A review of those vehicles showed several were "inconsistent" with a not-for-profit fire department and EMS business.
Among those 24 vehicles are several Cadillacs, Chevrolet Camaros and Chevrolet Corvettes.
In December, investigators accused Noel of unlawfully purchasing a Cessna airplane.
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