Yesterday, the Indiana State Police arrested a Versailles, Indiana woman on numerous charges following an investigation into the theft of personal identification numbers from students at the Ivy Tech Community College-Madison, Indiana Campus.

The investigation by Trooper Nate Adams began on September 11, 2017 when the Indiana State Police was contacted by Ivy Tech after they became aware of suspicious purchases that occurred using their on-line bookstore. 

Through the investigation, Trp. Adams learned that Bioncia N. Mitchell, age 20, Versailles, Indiana, a current student at Ivy Tech Community College-Madison Campus, obtained the personal Ivy Tech identification numbers of numerous other students who attended the same campus. 

By obtaining the identification numbers, Mitchell was able to go to the Ivy Tech on-line store and fraudulently purchase over $7,000 worth of items using other students’ accounts during August and September 2017. 

Ivy Tech officials were able to block and refund nearly half the money initially once the suspicious activity was discovered.

School officials became suspicious due to the large amount of purchases made that were shipped to different names at Mitchell’s address. 

School officials were also able to determine that the purchases were made using an IP 

address that returned to Bioncia Mitchell’s login information.

Yesterday, the Indiana State Police served a search warrant at Mitchell’s residence located at 178 Michael Street, Apt. A, Versailles, IN where much of the fraudulently purchased items were located. 

Mitchell was arrested at her residence and transported to the Jefferson County Jail where she was incarcerated, pending her initial court appearance.

Mitchell was arrested on felony charges of Identity Deception, Theft, and Fraud.

Troopers from the Indiana State Police arrested three men from Kansas City, Missouri this past Wednesday evening on I-69 in Huntington County on an allegation they had possessed an illegal card skimming device along with a large amount of fraudulent credit cards.

The three men were taken into custody without incident and incarcerated in the Huntington County Jail on the following preliminary charges:

Omar C. Sosa, 19 of Kansas City, Missouri   

• Unlawful Possession of a Card Skimming Device, Level 6 Felony
• Forgery-Counterfeiting, Level 6 Felony
• Fraud, Level 6 Felony
• Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor

Adrian Miguel Abreu Boza, 19 of Kansas City, Missouri

• Unlawful Possession of a Card Skimming Device, Level 6 Felony
• Forgery-Counterfeiting, Level 6 Felony
• Fraud, Level 6 Felony
• Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor

Alejandro Abreu Martinez, 27 of Kansas City, Missouri

• Unlawful Possession of a Card Skimming Device, Level 6 felony
• Forgery-Counterfeiting, Level 6 Felony
• Fraud, Level 6 Felony
• Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor

The investigation conducted by Troopers Alaa Hamed and Christopher Eagles indicated at approximately 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday, September 20, 2017, they stopped a Nissan SUV northbound at the 287.7 mile marker for a traffic violation.

As Hamed and Eagles interacted with the three men inside of the vehicle, their suspicions were heightened by the men’s behavior and information they were providing.  Eagles’ K-9 partner “Axle” conducted a free air sniff around the exterior of the vehicle and following a positive alert, the vehicle was searched.

During the course of the search, a credit card skimming device which was plugged into a laptop computer was located along with more than 160 plastic credit cards, more than 60 MasterCard gift cards, tampering tools, and approximately 1 gram of suspected marijuana.  As a result of their findings and further investigation, a search warrant was obtained and executed on a room at the Motel 6 in the 4300 block of Southport Crossings Way in Indianapolis by Troopers from the Indianapolis post.

During the course of that search, “several hundred” fraudulent cards and a hard drive were located.  In all, according to Hamed, approximately 500 fraudulent cards and gift cards with an approximate value of $50,000.00 were seized.

A copy of this investigation will also be forwarded to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office for their review.  The Markle Police Department assisted troopers at the scene.

All Suspects Are Presumed Innocent Until Proven Guilty in a Court of Law.

Year-Long Drug Investigation Nets 37 Suspects, Several Suspects Still At-Large

A year-long drug investigation by Indiana State Police and Washington Police resulted in 37 suspects being arrested early this morning during a multi-agency drug roundup. The drug investigation was launched in September 2016 to target individuals dealing in illegal narcotics in the Daviess and Knox County area.

At approximately 7 a.m. this morning, officers with the Indiana State Police, ATF, DEA, US Marshals service, Martin County Sheriff’s Department, Daviess County Sheriff’s Department, Knox County Sheriff’s Department, Odon Police and Vincennes Police responded to various locations throughout Knox and Daviess County to execute felony arrest warrants.  As of 3:00 this afternoon, six suspects are still at large.

Suspects Arrested in Daviess County:

• Jeffrey Scheid, 55, Washington, IN

1. 2 Counts of Dealing Schedule II Controlled Substance, Level 4 Felony 

• Gage Overton, 25, Washington, IN

1. Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• James Fricke, 53, Washington, IN

1. Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Michael Hambrick, 35, Washington, IN

1. 2 Counts of Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Derrick Parker, 38, Washington, IN

1. Conspiracy to Commit Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony
2. Dealing Cocaine, Level 5 Felony 

• Justin Williams, 28, Washington, IN

1. 3 Counts of Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Austin Collins, 23, Washington, IN

1. Dealing Schedule II Drug, Level 4 Felony 

• Joshua Hambrick, 37, Washington, IN

1. 2 Counts of Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Jonathan Spaulding, 30, Washington, IN

1. Dealing Schedule III Controlled Substance, Level 4 Felony  

• Kenneth Morning, 46, Washington, IN

1. Dealing Schedule II Controlled Substance, Level 4 Felony 

• Tyler Nading, 25, Washington, IN

1. Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Robert Hambrick,  36, Washington, IN

1. Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Joshua Arnold, 31, Washington, IN

1. Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• John Ward, 33, Washington, IN

1. 2 Counts Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Jordan Page, 23, Washington, IN

1. Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Drake Latham, 27, Washington, IN

1. Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• James Booher, 30, Washington, IN

1. 2 Counts of Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Richard Shelton, 64, Washington, IN

1. Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Betty Edmondson, 40, Washington, IN

1. Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Justin Elenbaas, 19, Washington, IN

1. Conspiracy to Commit Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Steven Booher, 22, Washington, IN

1. Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Stacey Long, 48, Washington, IN

1. 2 Counts of Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Mervin Graber, 31, Washington, IN

1. 2 Counts of Dealing Schedule II Controlled Substance, Level 4 Felony 

• Benjamin Leighty, 39, Washington, IN

1. 2 Counts of Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Ashley Bechtel, 34, Washington, IN

1. Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Miranda Merriman, 23, Bloomington, IN

1. 2 Counts of Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony

• Benjamin Phillips, 19, Bloomington, IN

1. 2 Counts of Conspiracy to Commit Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony

 Suspects Arrested from Knox County:

• Charles Thomas, 29, Wheatland, IN

1. Dealing a Schedule I, Level 6 Felony 

• David Yoder, 52, Bruceville, IN

1. Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Jaimee Robinson, 41, Vincennes, IN

1. Dealing Meth, Level 5 Felony 

• Heather Shofner, 32, Bruceville, IN

1. Dealing Meth 

• George Weiss Jr, 34, Vincennes, IN

1. Dealing Meth 

• Megan Potter, 25, Vincennes, IN

1. Dealing Schedule IV, Level 6 Felony 

• Tiffany Emmons, 25, Vincennes, IN

1. Dealing Meth 

• James Howard, 56, Vincennes, IN

1. Dealing Schedule IV, Level 6 Felony 

• Charles Thomas, 29, Wheatland, IN

1. Dealing Schedule IV, Level 6 Felony

• Ashley Schutte, 24, Shoals, IN

1. Dealing Schedule II Controlled Substance, Level 4 Felony

 This was a joint investigation conducted by Washington Police and Indiana State Police

Governor Eric J. Holcomb and INDOT Commissioner Joe McGuinness today announced 396 Indiana cities, towns and counties received a combined $150 million in state-matching funds for local road projects through the Next Level Roads: Community Crossings Initiative. 

A large chunk of that money will be spend in the Seymour district, which includes Salem, Campbellsburg, Scottsburg, and many other cities and towns in the WSLM Listening Area. 

Lawrence County will receive $596,062 and Orange County will receive $477,961. In addition, various communities within these and Clark, Harrison, Jackson and Washington counties were awarded grants including $786,000 for the City of Salem and $310,195 for the Town of Campbellsburg. 

Salem Mayor Troy Merry said the money would be used for road projects and repaving. 

“I’m so grateful to INDOT for getting this grant,” said Merry. “We’ll use the money on things that need to be kept up in the city. 100 percent of that will go to keep the City streets in good working condition.”

Merry said money this year went to paving High Street from north to south as well as other streets in Salem. He said if funds are available next year he would like to pave Main Street from the stop light and around the square.  

The full list of communities receiving matching funds was released this afternoon following the first in a series of presentations being held around the state with local, state and business officials to highlight award-winning grant applications. 

“Superior local roads are a key factor in maintaining Indiana’s reputation as the Crossroads of America,” Gov. Holcomb said. “I am encouraged that a record number of communities applied for and received funds this year, and I’m grateful to lawmakers for increasing the funding to sustain the community crossings initiative.” 

In just its second year, the Community Crossings Initiative has awarded nearly $300 million in state matching funds to local governments for road construction projects. This year, 467 communities applied for funds – a 48 percent increase from 2016 – making this year truly competitive. 

State Rep. Steve Davisson (R-Salem) supported this funding initiative back in 2016. 

“Funding provided through this program will help local governments make the necessary repairs and updates to roads and bridges,” Davisson said. “These improvements will keep our transportation infrastructure efficient and safe.”

“Across Indiana, local communities are recognizing the need to invest in fixing and improving their infrastructure,” said INDOT Commissioner Joe McGuinness. “The projects funded today will help build smoother roads and stronger bridges in every corner of the state.” 

Community Crossings was created by the Indiana General Assembly in 2016. Funds for the program are awarded from the state’s local road and bridge matching grant fund. To qualify for funding, local governments must provide local matching funds, 50 percent for larger communities or 25 percent for smaller communities, from a funding source approved for road and bridge construction. They must also submit an INDOT-approved asset management plan for maintaining existing roads and bridges. 

State law requires annually that 50 percent of the available matching funds be awarded to communities with a population of 50,000 or fewer. State lawmakers identified long-term funding for Community Crossings as part of House Enrolled Act 1002, passed by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Holcomb in April.

INDOT estimates $190 million in matching funds will be available for local communities in calendar year 2018.