NJ army recruiter ran 'fraudulent scheme,' used fake ID to get money: officials

NEWARK N.J. (PIX11) – A first-class sergeant in the United States Army has been charged with bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, the U.S. Attorney's Office District of New Jersey announced Wednesday. 

Jane Crosby, 33, a Sergeant First Class and an Army recruiter, allegedly attempted to defraud a credit union by using fake identification to obtain money and multiple lines of credit, according to court documents.

"Crosby engaged in a fraudulent scheme to defraud Credit Union-1 by using her position as a U.S. Army Recruiter to obtain personal identifying information ("PII") belonging to recruits, recruit candidates, and others (the "Victims"), and then submit fraudulent account applications to Credit Union-1 without the Victims' knowledge." Read a 10-page indictment obtained by PIX11 NEWS.

Court documents allege Crosby used the personal information of at least seven victims to apply for up to $266,000 in loans and credit accounts. She reportedly submitted a "Pre-Active Duty Membership," a bank account application used to pay the salaries of active duty military members.

Officials say Crosby submitted multiple applications to a credit union for these seven U.S. Army recruits without their knowledge or consent. The applications included the victims' names, social security numbers, copies of their passports, and driver's license information.

Crosby faces seven charges of aggravated identity theft and one count of bank fraud. If convicted of bank fraud, she could spend up to 30 years in prison and pay a $1 million fine. If charged with aggravated identity theft, she faces a minimum term of two years in jail and a $250,000 fine.