Family indicted on $2.5 million theft and mail fraud

Published 5:41 pm Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Three family members have been indicted for taking $2.5 million from a local business throughout a 16-year span.

The Eastern Kentucky Federal Grand Jury, on Jan. 5, charged wife and husband Joyce, 65, and James Minton, 70, and son, Aaron Brooke Warren, 43, with bank fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud. 

The family aided and abetted each other in a scheme to defraud and obtain money, according to the indictment.

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All three worked at Clark Machine Tool and Die, operated by Ray, Sue and Danny Clark. 

Joyce worked as an office manager and bookkeeper, Warren as a shop foreman and James as a contractor.

Before the case went to the state level, the Jessamine County Grand Jury indicted the family. 

The trio was first arrested last year by Kentucky State Police. Joyce was arrested on July 7, and charged with two counts of theft by failure to make required disposition of property. Warren was also arrested and charged with one count of theft by failure to make required disposition of property.

James Minton was later added to the case and indicted by the Jessamine County Grand Jury for theft of unlawful taking.

“The investigation began when the company noticed that multiple checks had been written and cashed by Joyce Minton,” a 2016 news release said. “However, the money was unaccounted for and never returned to the business.” 

Throughout a 16-year period, $2.5 million was taken from the Clark Machine Tool and Die — a business in Nicholasville that specializes in customized equipment for industrial needs.

From February 2000 through May 2016, in the Eastern District of  Kentucky, Joyce Warren and James, intentionally participated in a conspiracy and agreement to commit the crime of mail fraud — any fraudulent scheme to intentionally deprive another of property or honest services via mail or wire communication — according to the indictment.

The indictment also said that the three will be accountable for the amount of $2.5 million.

The family is scheduled to be arraigned on Jan. 23.