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A receptionist for Jacksonville Area Legal Aid surrendered Tuesday on charges she stole the identities of at least 20 clients and used the information to obtain thousands of dollars’ worth of payday loans.
Tashannyo Adena Medley remained free on unsecured bail and was ordered to be in court Monday to answer charges of fraud and identity theft.
Medley, 29, also is charged in an unrelated count with submitting fraudulent student loan applications before she began working for Legal Aid last November.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen O’Malley said Medley stole about $232,000 through both scams. But O’Malley told U.S. Magistrate Jim Klindt that Medley would have gotten about $990,000 if she’d succeeded completely.
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid Director Michael Figgins said he contacted authorities in February after learning Medley’s office computer had made frequent visits to online payday loan sites.
Authorities estimated she got about $11,000 worth of loans using the Social Security numbers of his office’s clients, who by definition are poor.
“It was a very selfish and self-centered thing to do,” Figgins said. “Probably she thought it was a victimless crime.”
He said Medley dressed well and had an active social life, unusual on a Legal Aid salary.
Figgins said the damage could have been much worse had Medley’s online activity not been flagged. He said his agency was able to help victims check their credit reports and no major damage was found. Medley was fired immediately after the activity came to light.
Medley already was under investigation for the student loan fraud by the Secret Service before she was hired by Legal Aid. Her indictment says she used different Social Security numbers in 2006 and 2007 to submit fraudulent student loan applications to three loan companies. She used the money for vehicles, furniture and other expenses, the indictment says.
Legal Aid was unaware of that investigation when Medley was hired, O’Malley said.
Medley now works for a mortgage company, but Klindt told her she has until 5 p.m. today to inform her employer of the charges. She wept as she told Klindt she can’t find her Jamaican passport since moving to the United States.
He restricted her travel to the Jacksonville area and said the only reason he considered releasing her was that she has known for more than a year she was under investigation for the student loan fraud and didn’t try to flee. But he warned her that her consequences would be severe if she tried to jump bail or committed another crime.
Jacksonville Legal Aid worker accused of stealing clients? identities | Jacksonville.com
Tashannyo Adena Medley remained free on unsecured bail and was ordered to be in court Monday to answer charges of fraud and identity theft.
Medley, 29, also is charged in an unrelated count with submitting fraudulent student loan applications before she began working for Legal Aid last November.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen O’Malley said Medley stole about $232,000 through both scams. But O’Malley told U.S. Magistrate Jim Klindt that Medley would have gotten about $990,000 if she’d succeeded completely.
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid Director Michael Figgins said he contacted authorities in February after learning Medley’s office computer had made frequent visits to online payday loan sites.
Authorities estimated she got about $11,000 worth of loans using the Social Security numbers of his office’s clients, who by definition are poor.
“It was a very selfish and self-centered thing to do,” Figgins said. “Probably she thought it was a victimless crime.”
He said Medley dressed well and had an active social life, unusual on a Legal Aid salary.
Figgins said the damage could have been much worse had Medley’s online activity not been flagged. He said his agency was able to help victims check their credit reports and no major damage was found. Medley was fired immediately after the activity came to light.
Medley already was under investigation for the student loan fraud by the Secret Service before she was hired by Legal Aid. Her indictment says she used different Social Security numbers in 2006 and 2007 to submit fraudulent student loan applications to three loan companies. She used the money for vehicles, furniture and other expenses, the indictment says.
Legal Aid was unaware of that investigation when Medley was hired, O’Malley said.
Medley now works for a mortgage company, but Klindt told her she has until 5 p.m. today to inform her employer of the charges. She wept as she told Klindt she can’t find her Jamaican passport since moving to the United States.
He restricted her travel to the Jacksonville area and said the only reason he considered releasing her was that she has known for more than a year she was under investigation for the student loan fraud and didn’t try to flee. But he warned her that her consequences would be severe if she tried to jump bail or committed another crime.
Jacksonville Legal Aid worker accused of stealing clients? identities | Jacksonville.com