Noel is currently in jail for being in contempt of court. He is awaiting trial on 25 felony charges.
JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. — More details of former southern Indiana sheriff Jamey Noel’s car buying scheme were brought to light Friday in a new search warrant affidavit released by Indiana State Police, who have been investigating Noel for nearly a year.
According to a new probable cause affidavit released Friday, lead investigator Lt. Jeffrey Hearon believes Noel used stolen funds from the Utica Township Volunteer Firefighters Association to purchase six classic cars. Previous court documents showed over 100 vehicles were registered to the UTVFA while Noel was in charge of the organization, and many were deemed “inconsistent” with a non-profit fire department or EMS business.
An inquiry of Noel’s BMV title history was conducted by investigators on April 16. Hearon stated it appears someone requested duplicate titles for several vehicles owned by Noel.
“The request for duplicate titles possibly indicates an intent to sell some of Jamey Noel’s car collection,” Hearon said in the affidavit.
RELATED: Jamey Noel case | Judge sets trial date for former Indiana sheriff facing 25 felony charges
Hearon recently reviewed several vehicle purchase histories of vehicles registered to Noel.
A cashier’s check issued May 5, 2020, for $40,000 was compared to a title history of a 1957 Chevrolet Belair owned by Noel. The check was issued from the Fifth Third Bank account belonging to the UTVFA and indicated a vehicle purchase in the memo section.
Hearon stated in the affidavit “the 1957 Chevrolet appears to have been purchased by Jamey Noel using funds stolen from the UTVFA.”t
In another instance, a cashier’s check was issued from the same account on Aug. 13, 2022, for $33,919. According to court documents, Noel obtained the check to purchase a 1966 Pontiac GTO from the Clark County Auto Auction.
Hearon said this also appeared to be purchased with stolen funds.
Hearon stated similar methods were used to purchase a 1979 Pontiac Trans Am for $20,000 January 6, 2020, a 1952 Dodge truck for $13,000 Dec. 23, 2019, a 1969 Plymouth Road Runner for $52,500 March 19, 2022, and a 1938 Plymouth PT57 for $8,438.10 June 6, 2016.
According to Hearon, Noel withdrew $52,500 from the UTVFA account Dec. 2, 2019, and deposited it into his deceased brother’s estate account the same day. A review of the estate account records showed Noel obtained a cashier’s check for $52,500 from the estate, which is believed to have been used to purchase the Road Runner.
Family members of Noel’s brother, Leon Noel, are suing him in an attempt to be paid funds they say were owed to them, but misused by Jamey instead.
RELATED: Indiana State Police: Jamey Noel and family spent $300,000 on vacations using fire department funds
All six vehicles were seen by investigators at Noel’s pole barn located on Old Salem Road in Jeffersonville on Aug. 16, 2023 and Nov. 29, 2023. The application for duplicate titles requested April 16, 2024, indicates the Noels are still in possession of the vehicles.
Jamey Noel is currently in jail after being found in contempt of court earlier this month. He is awaiting trial on 25 felony counts. He pleaded not guilty.
His wife Misty Noel and daughter Kasey Noel are also awaiting trial on numerous felony counts.
Jamey 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.
Kasey Noel is facing nine felonies; five counts of theft and four counts of tax evasion.
According to previous court documents, Hearon found millions of dollars of personal purchases made by all three on Utica Township Volunteer Firefighter Association credit cards. He also stated they failed to disclose income on their taxes over a five-year span.
Jamey ran UTVFA until January when he was ousted by the board.
In March, investigators uncovered over $100,000 in tuition and education-related payments were made from the cards by Jamey and Misty. Hearon asked a judge for permission to search Indiana University records regarding Josey and Gracy Noel — Jamey and Misty’s other daughters who are currently enrolled at IU campuses.
In April, ISP said the family spent over $300,000 on vacations using fire department funds without reimbursement. Noel was ordered to serve 60 days in jail on April 9 after a judge found him in contempt of court for having firearms in his home in violation of his bond conditions.
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 several cars registered to the UTVFA for vehicles he then registered to himself for personal use. In some cases, he allegedly sold them and pocketed the money.
Court documents released in early March indicated 26 containers of military surplus equipment belonging to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office were found on a property in Deputy, Indiana. Hearon alleged Noel sold multiple items belonging to the sheriff’s office and sold them for personal gain.
The investigation has also focused on former Scott County Sheriff Kenneth Hughbanks, a friend and associate of Jamey’s. Hearon said Hughbanks failed to report over $200,000 in income on his taxes. He has not been charged.
