Julie Michelle Shuler and Taylor Skiey Bradham, former contractors for the Florida Prepaid College Program, have admitted guilt in federal court to charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. Shuler also pleaded guilty to additional counts of mail fraud. This development was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin commented on the case, stating: “These defendants sought to exploit Florida parents’ investments in their children’s futures for their own personal gain, but thanks to the diligent collaboration between my office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, their profiteering scheme has been dismantled and a prison cell awaits them.”
According to court documents, Shuler and Bradham were employed by a company responsible for customer service and records administration services for the Florida Prepaid College Program. They misused their positions to access personal identifying information (PII) of account owners and beneficiaries without authorization. The two then conspired to change ownership of existing contracts under false pretenses and requested terminations that resulted in refund checks being mailed to addresses they controlled. These checks were subsequently cashed or deposited into accounts associated with them or others acting at their direction, amounting to an attempted theft of approximately $86,000.
Both face potential sentences including up to twenty years’ imprisonment plus three years’ supervised release for conspiracy charges. Additionally, Shuler could receive similar penalties per count of mail fraud. For aggravated identity theft charges, both face a mandatory two-year imprisonment consecutive to other sentences along with up to one year supervised release.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the United States Postal Inspection Service with prosecution led by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen.
Sentencing dates are set: Shuler’s on August 6th at 10:00 am; Bradham’s on September 15th at 9:00 am before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor in Tallahassee.
The Northern District of Florida is one among 94 U.S Attorney offices operating under guidance from the Attorney General serving as principal litigators nationwide.
