JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. — New search warrants released Tuesday in the Jamey Noel investigation show he received $7 million of military surplus equipment during his time as Clark County sheriff, and sold at least some of it for personal gain.
According to court documents, Indiana State Police investigators located 26 missing United States government, civilian and military shipping containers Monday on a property in Deputy, Indiana. Several containers were open and appeared to contain surplus property.
RELATED: Indiana State Police seize nearly $20,000 worth of items from mansion owned by Jamey and Misty Noel
ISP Lt. Jeffrey Hearon, the lead investigator on the case, has been investigating Noel, his family and associates since June. So far, Noel is charged with 25 felonies and his wife, Misty Noel, is facing 10. They pleaded not guilty.
New search warrants
On Nov. 15, an agent with Defense Criminal Investigative Services informed Hearon the Clark County Sheriff's office received $7 million in surplus military property from January 2015 and December 2022. Hearon obtained a list of the property and requested assistance in accounting for and tracking the property, according to court documents.
Several forklifts were also given to the department.
Two weeks later, a search warrant on the property of a Clark County jail employee uncovered two tan metal surplus military storage containers and a green aircraft mechanic surplus toolbox -- both were seized.
The jail employee told Hearon the containers were given to him by Kenneth Hughbanks, the former Scott County sheriff and former Clark County Sheriff's Office employee. He is also a close friend and associate of Noel's.
On Feb. 21, Noel spoke to a Utica Township Volunteer Firefighters Association employee who informed him he overheard a conversation between Hughbanks and an unknown person in December 2022 about moving several shipping containers from the Clark County Sheriff's Department training facility to a property in Deputy, Indiana. On Monday, Hearon and a detective flew a helicopter over that property, but did not see the containers.
However Hearon contacted the property owner after the flight, who told Hearon that Noel and Hughbanks asked him to store numerous shipping containers containing "New Chapel property" at his oil company on West Corporation Drive. There, ISP found 26 containers, a surplus forklift and a Jeffersonville Powder Plant Plymouth Train.
Hearon also stated he found three surplus items for sale at an auction in October matching the serial numbers found on the list of military surplus equipment. The items - two air compressors and a generator - were valued at $24,741.
In recent weeks, the investigation turned to Hughbanks and $262,000 worth of consulting work he performed for Noel. Previous court documents show Hughbanks and his wife failed to report $214,000 of income on their taxes.
Hughbanks has not been charged.
Another search warrant released Tuesday indicates ISP found yet another case of Noel improperly selling an automobile.
ISP received an anonymous tip on Feb. 26 from someone in Scottsburg saying Hughbanks owns or rents a former hardware store on East Kerton Street filled with classic cars. The tipster said after he asked Hughbanks if he could throw something away in his dumpster, Hughbanks asked him if he liked cars and invited him into the garage.
A large part of the investigation into Noel pertains to his massive car collection and routinely converting UTVFA vehicles into his name, then selling those vehicles while keeping the funds for himself.
The tipster told Hearon one of the vehicles inside the old hardware store is a 1957 Chevrolet.
Hearon asked a judge for permission to search the property because of a transaction involving a 1957 Chevy Bel Air. The vehicle was transferred in Noel's name, then sold to Hughbanks.
According to court documents, Noel profited $9,500 from the transaction.
Case background
Jamel Noel is facing 25 felony charges, including counts of theft, tax evasion, corrupt business practices, ghost employment and official misconduct. The ISP investigation began in June 2023 following allegations that Noel directed jail staff to work on his personal property and run his personal errands while on county time.
His wife Misty Noel is facing 10 felonies; five counts of theft and five counts of tax evasion. Both pleaded not guilty.
According to previous court documents, Hearon found millions of dollars of personal purchases made by each on UTVFA credit cards. He also stated they failed to disclose income on their taxes over a five-year span.
Documents show daughter Kasey Noel spent over $100,000 on personal items and services. She has not been charged.
The investigation also uncovered Jamey fathered a child with former Clark County Councilwoman Brittney Ferree and paid child support payments with UTVFA funds.
Jamey Noel's vast automobile collection has been under scrutiny by investigators since the beginning of the investigation.
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.
Jamey is accused of orchestrating a vehicle trading and selling scheme where he traded in cars registered to the UTVFA for vehicles he then registered to himself for personal use. In some cases, he sold them and pocketed the money.
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