Investigators seize items belonging to former Clark County deputy auditor in ongoing investigation into Jamey Noel | Crime reports

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Indiana State Police investigators have seized several items from now-former Clark County Deputy Auditor Jessica Huffman as part of the ongoing fraud investigation into former Sheriff Jamey Noel.

According to court documents, the ISP seized several items, including electronic devices, documents and other evidence, from Huffman’s office at the Clark County Government Center, her Jeffersonville home and her personal SUV.

An affidavit shows that when police seized Noel’s phone as part of their investigation, they found text messages from Huffman about his brother-in-law’s retirement status.

Noel is accused of altering records so that his brother-in-law, the prison warden, would receive a pension even though he was not actually entitled to that money.

According to investigators, Noel and Huffman were in a relationship for three years, meeting frequently and communicating recently.

Affidavits released Thursday say Huffman communicated with Noel about matters related to the investigation.

The documents say Huffman sent Noel a photo of an email from the sheriff’s department chief deputy to Huffman asking about another sheriff’s official named in the investigation.

Huffman is no longer employed by Clark County government, Clark County Auditor Danny Yost confirmed to WDRB News Thursday evening.

A 1970 Chevrolet Corvette belonging to Noel was also seized from an auto repair shop in Austin, Indiana.

According to the most recent search warrants, Noel purchased the Corvette and another classic car at an auction in 2018 and paid the down payment on the purchase using a Utica Township Fire Department credit card. The affidavit shows Noel did not pay the $10,000 back to the fire department. Noel’s classic cars have been confiscated in the past as part of the investigation.

Noel was arrested in November 2023 following a nearly year-long ongoing investigation on 15 offenses related to fraud, misconduct, theft, ghost employment and public corruption. A further ten charges were brought against him in early February, including theft and tax evasion.

He was released from jail after posting $75,000 bail. As one of the conditions of his release, Noel was prohibited from possessing firearms, other than a shotgun, for “personal protection.” However, he was forced to appear in court after ISP investigators found two pistols in his home during a search of the family home.

Noel, his wife and daughter are accused of amassing millions of dollars on travel, expensive clothing, jewelry, tanning, gas, alcohol, e-cigarettes, salon services and more. The charges relate to millions that police are accusing the three people of charging on fire department credit cards and paying with fire department funds.

On Monday, former FBI agent Todd Brown explained a search he conducted several months ago. Brown told the court he found a handgun in a closet on the first floor of his home and another handgun in the closet in the master bedroom. A shotgun was also found, but Noel was allowed to have it for protection.

ISP obtained a search warrant last month and went to Noel’s Jeffersonville barn on Old Salem Road, where they seized six vintage cars from the 1930s to the 1970s. Court documents detail how Noel stole money from the Utica Township Firefighter’s Association to purchase them.

In one case, Noel allegedly stole money from the fire department and transferred it to his late brother’s estate, only to have a check written from that account for the purchase of a 1969 Road Runner on the same day. State police also accuse Noel of lying about car titles and changing purchase amounts and purchase and sale dates. Just two weeks ago, someone applied for duplicate titles for the cars, catching the attention of investigators.

Noel was sentenced to 60 days in jail on April 10 after the court accused him of violating bail conditions. He is serving that sentence in the Scott County Jail.

And investigators believe more charges are likely. So far, investigators have released more than 50 search warrants and their findings since they began their investigation last summer, each detailing evidence seized or otherwise obtained in the case.

Noel’s wife Misty and daughter Kasey face multiple charges of theft and tax evasion. Kasey Noel was arrested earlier this month on nine felony charges, including five counts of theft and four counts of tax evasion. Search warrants in the Jamey Noel corruption case indicate his daughter billed the Utica Volunteer Fire Department and New Chapel EMS more than $100,000.

According to the detailed charges, Kasey Noel purchased clothing, tanning products, cosmetics, manicure and pedicure services, groceries, tickets, travel, alcohol, utilities, vaping products, gasoline, Netflix and items from Amazon. The charges were made between October 2018 and September 2023 and totaled $108,660.59.

Misty and Kasey Noel have since pleaded not guilty and are out of jail on bail.

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