Ten accused in theft of $91,000 in child support money

[Brent]

Ten accused in theft of $91,000 in child support money

04/17/2004

Associated Press


The Marion County prosecutor filed dozens of felony charges against a former state employee and nine others accused of taking part in the theft of more than $91,000 in child support money.

Prosecutor Carl Brizzi said Kathleen Crumpton, who worked for the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration from 1998 until last year, used her authority to redirect and steal child support checks. Crumpton, 38, is charged with two felonies.

"She diverted money that was intended to help support children in single-parent homes," Brizzi said. "Who knows what these children had to go without?"

From September 2002 to March 2003, Crumpton had about 25 child support payments mailed to her mother's home and other addresses, and she then falsely endorsed and cashed them, according to the charges filed Friday in Marion Superior Court.

Crumpton could not be reached for comment. A phone number assigned to an Indianapolis resident with her name is unlisted.

Prosecutors also charged Crumpton's 19-year-old son and a bank teller who allegedly processed the checks. Seven others also were charged.

The 10 suspects were expected to surrender to authorities, prosecutors said. The charges include conspiracy, forgery and theft.

The Family and Social Services Administration, according to court records, was tipped to the scheme in February 2003 by a liquor store owner who became suspicious when he was asked to cash one of the stolen checks. The FSSA began its own investigation and closely monitored Crumpton's activities for about a month, spokeswoman Cindy Collier said.

Crumpton resigned during the FSSA investigation. Prosecutors were presented with the evidence in September, Collier said.

"We have been very anxious to see this come to fruition," she said. "That money belongs to children, and that's who should get it."

The FSSA processes about $430 million a year in child support.

The agency has tightened policies and procedures since Crumpton's resignation last year, Collier said. The theft "was an important learning experience," the spokeswoman said.

Information from: The Indianapolis Star

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