By Cathy Locke
clocke@sacbee.com
A Sacramento woman has been sentenced to two years in prison for her role in a federal student loan fraud ring.
Jewel Minor, 24, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb. Her prison term will be followed by three years of supervised release. The judge also ordered Minor to pay $118,843.72 in restitution.
Also charged in the case are Sacramento residents Nakesha Sharrieff, aka Takiyah Raheem and Aysia Hanifah, 23; Hoa Tasha Kelly, aka Tasha Kelly, 24; and Teaona Williams, 24.
Jarmal Duplessis, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit student loan fraud and was sentenced on Nov. 8 to nine months in prison, three years or supervised release and ordered to pay $23,293.70 in restitution. Thomas Keys, 23, pleaded guilty Oct. 4 to one count of conspiracy to commit student loan fraud and is to be sentenced Jan. 10.
Minor admitted in her plea agreement that in June 2008, Teaona Williams recruited her to be a "straw student" to obtain student loan funds without going to school, according to a federal Department of Justice news release. Williams introduced Minor to Sharrieff, who signed Minor up for student loan funds.
Minor met Sharrieff at a bank, and Sharrieff gave Minor a check in an envelope that had Minor's cut of the proceeds written on it. Minor cashed the checks, then split the money with Sharrieff, officials said.
Minor recruited additional students for Sharrieff in exchange for a portion of the money obtained. Minor also let Sharrieff use her address to receive checks for other straw students, in exchange for additional payment.
After Minor became involved in the conspiracy, the scheme netted approximately $118,000 in federally provided or insured student loan funds, officials said.
The case resulted from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of the Inspector General and the Los Rios Community College District Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jean M. Hobler is prosecuting the case.
Call The Bee's Cathy Locke, (916) 321-5287.
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.