After a two-year investigation, the Indiana State Police (ISP) arrested Diara Jernigan, a resident of Gary, Indiana, in connection with a multi-county identity theft and fraud operation. According to FOX59, in December 2023, Jernigan allegedly used a stolen identity to open a line of credit and attempted an online purchase from a business in Fishers.
Detectives began their investigation after store employees flagged a suspicious transaction. The suspect was asked to complete the purchase in person but did not appear. The Indiana State Police (ISP) connected the fraudulent activity to an address on Dobbs Ferry Drive in Indianapolis, which led to the issuance of a search warrant in February 2024. During the search, authorities found evidence of identity theft, fraud, and forgery. Jernigan was arrested on active warrants from Hamilton and Hendricks counties and now faces a total of 36 charges, including identity deception, forgery, and fraud, as per Current Publishing.
In addition to the fraudulent transactions, Jernigan is accused of using stolen identities to rent homes and access utilities throughout Indianapolis. Evidence recovered from her downtown Indianapolis apartment supported the ongoing criminal activity, resulting in additional charges. Items seized during the investigation included five firearms, counterfeit currency and credit cards, a credit card stamping machine, stolen Social Security cards, and approximately $20,000 in cash. A WISH-TV report noted that authorities also recovered 125 fraudulent state identification cards from five different states.
The case, which has expanded to include five additional suspects connected to theft and forgery, involved extensive police work, including the issuance and execution of more than 120 search warrants or subpoenas. Court records indicate that Jernigan is scheduled to appear in Hamilton Superior Court 4 on January 15 to begin her jury trial. Details regarding her court appearances in Marion County have not been confirmed at the time of reporting.
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