4 Wisconsin Residents Charged In Federal Nonprofit Embezzlement Scheme

MILWAUKEE, WI — Four Wisconsin residents have been federally charged in connection with an alleged embezzlement and fraud scheme targeting an unnamed Milwaukee-area nonprofit, according to prosecutors.

A federal grand jury indicted Brandi Ellis, 45; Jason Flanders, 51; Ramon Hernandez, 45; and Jezlia Barajas, 39, on Feb. 3 in a 15-count indictment announced Friday by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.

Prosecutors allege Ellis, the nonprofit’s finance director, and Flanders, its chief financial officer, used their positions to issue unauthorized checks to themselves and others from the organization’s bank accounts. Ellis is also accused of using the nonprofit’s credit cards for personal expenses, including purchases at Gucci and at the Venetian and Palazzo hotels in Las Vegas.

According to the indictment, Ellis faces six counts of bank fraud, along with charges including money laundering conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, and intimidation of a witness.

Flanders is charged with three counts of bank fraud and one count of making false statements to federal authorities.

Hernandez and Barajas are each charged with one count of bank fraud and one count of money laundering conspiracy.

If convicted on the most serious charges, the defendants could face decades in federal prison and fines ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars, depending on the count. Prosecutors said four additional individuals were charged in related cases the same day through separate court filings.

The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie F. Stewart.