Ellen L. Corn, a former executive director of a Dubois County nonprofit organization, has been sentenced to one year and nine months in federal prison after pleading guilty to five counts of wire fraud. The sentence also includes three years of supervised release and an order to pay $121,439.72 in restitution.
Court documents show that from March 2017 to August 2022, Corn managed financial operations for the nonprofit, which provides youth mentoring programs and college scholarships for local high school students. During this period, she used her access to the organization’s finances to steal $161,344.85 through various means.
Corn made approximately 1,226 unauthorized credit card transactions at businesses including Amazon, Target, and Walmart, as well as using the card for tuition payments for her children. She also transferred funds from the nonprofit’s PayPal account into her own account and made purchases directly from the organization’s checking account via debit card and check.
To cover up these activities, Corn omitted unauthorized transactions from accounting records presented to the Board of Directors and tax preparer. She maintained sufficient funds in accounts by reducing funding for certain departments and programs. In one instance in 2022, she failed to inform a first-generation college student about being selected for a scholarship.
Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, stated: “Ellen Corn abused her position of trust and stole from an organization dedicated to serving and mentoring local youth. Her crimes not only harmed the program and its ability to serve young people but also betrayed the trust of the public who support and rely on its mission. This sentence holds her accountable and demonstrates our commitment to protecting community nonprofits from fraud and financial exploitation.”
Ike Barnes, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Indianapolis Field Office added: “The sentencing in this case holds Ellen Corn accountable for violating the trust she held as the executive director of an organization focused on mentoring youth. It also reinforces the U.S. Secret Service’s commitment to pursuing officials who shamefully break the public’s trust by illegally enriching themselves through fraud and deception. Thanks to the Jasper Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Indiana for pursuing this case.”
A statement from law enforcement highlighted Detective Sergeant Greg Brescher’s role: “This case is a testament to the dedication and diligence of Detective Sergeant Greg Brescher, whose thorough investigation uncovered a serious breach of public trust. Thank you to those that came forward to provide the initial information as it your courage to contact us played a vital role in bringing this case to light. We are proud of the strong collaboration between the Jasper Police Department and the U.S. Department of Justice, which ensured that justice was served. Our agency remains steadfast in its commitment to holding individuals accountable, no matter their position, and to protecting the integrity of programs that serve our community’s youth.”
The investigation was conducted by both the U.S. Secret Service and Jasper Police Department; sentencing was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Richard L. Young.
Assistant United States Attorney Matthew B. Miller prosecuted this case.
