Indiana – A 69-year-old New Jersey woman has been sentenced to federal prison after admitting she carried out a long-running fraud scheme that targeted several companies, including a food service operation in Indiana.
Marsha L. Jester, of New Jersey, received an 18-month prison sentence followed by two years of supervised release after pleading guilty to wire fraud. In addition to serving time behind bars, she has been ordered to repay $231,589 in restitution.
According to the Department of Justice, Jester stole nearly half a million dollars over a seven-year span while working in positions that gave her significant authority over day-to-day business operations. Prosecutors said she repeatedly took advantage of that trust by creating fake vendors, submitting false invoices, and manipulating company records to divert funds for her own personal use.
From 2019 to 2022, Jester was employed by a New Jersey-based company that provided Site Managers to client businesses. These managers worked on location and were responsible for ordering supplies, approving invoices, and coordinating between vendors and clients. Though technically employed by the service provider, they operated with broad independence at client facilities.
In September 2021, Jester was assigned to oversee operations for a food service provider in Evansville. In that role, she had authority to process transactions and report purchases made on behalf of the client. Prosecutors said she used that access to launch a fraudulent billing scheme built around a company she fabricated, called “Global Solutions, Inc.”
According to court documents, Jester submitted invoices claiming that Global Solutions had delivered goods to the Evansville business. In reality, no products were ever supplied. To avoid detection, she entered false inventory data into the company’s system, making it appear as though the items had been received. Her employer paid the invoices and then billed the client for the same amounts, adding its own markup.
While assigned to the Evansville account, Jester submitted 13 fraudulent invoices totaling $87,356.31. Once payments were processed to the sham vendor, she accessed the money through the company’s Square account. Authorities said she spent the funds on personal expenses, including purchases at Target and QVC, services at Massage Envy and IV Therapy Solutions, visits to Nail Gallery, and even a trip to Atlantic City.
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The Evansville fraud was part of a much larger pattern. Investigators determined that Jester stole $489,489.54 from five different businesses during her tenure as a Site Manager. Over time, she submitted 119 fraudulent invoices through both Global Solutions and another fictitious entity, “Master Products Company.”
U.S. Attorney Tom Wheeler for the Southern District of Indiana said Jester’s conduct represented a serious breach of trust. He described the scheme as calculated and prolonged, adding that it not only harmed the companies involved but also weakened safeguards designed to prevent financial misconduct.
“Her actions not only betrayed the companies that relied on her integrity, but also undermined the systems designed to protect them. This office remains committed to holding accountable those who exploit their access for personal gain,” Wheeler said.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley echoed that message, noting that while fraud may not always be visible, its financial and operational consequences are significant.
“Fraud may seem invisible, but its effects are real and damaging. This case demonstrates the consequences of exploiting trust for personal gain,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley.
“The FBI remains committed to pursuing those who commit fraud to ensure they are held accountable.”
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The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. U.S. District Judge Matthew P. Brookman imposed the sentence, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew B. Miller prosecuted the case.
