After a trial lasting eight days, James Minton, 70, Joyce Minton, 65, and Aaron Brooke Warren, 43, all of Nicholasville, were convicted of multiple counts of conspiracy, mail fraud, bank fraud and money laundering by a federal jury on Monday, June 12.

The verdict was reached after the jury was presented evidence that James Minton, Joyce Minton, and Aaron Brooke Warren conspired to defraud their employer, Clark Machine Tool and Die of Nicholasville. The criminal conspiracy took place from February 2000 through May 2016 and led to a loss of over $1,500,000 through fraudulent use of company checks and credit cards to purchase personal items, cashing and keeping company petty cash checks, writing themselves extra paychecks and by falsely inflating their paychecks. In addition, the defendants also took money paid to the company for work by customers. 

The crimes were committed due to the conspirators’ positions within Clark Machine Tool and Die. Joyce Minton was the office manager and bookkeeper and Aaron Brooke Warren was the shop supervisor. James Minton was a contractor for the company.

After deliberation, the jury convicted Joyce Minton of 46 counts of conspiracy, mail fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering while James Minton was convicted of seven counts of conspiracy and mail fraud. Aaron Brooke Warren was convicted of 34 counts of conspiracy, mail fraud and money laundering. 

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Kentucky State Police, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Neeraj Gupta and Ken Taylor on behalf of the federal government. The verdict was then announced jointly by Carlton S. Shier, IV, acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Amy Hess, special agent in charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Richard W. Sanders, commissioner of the Kentucky State Police.

The defendants face a maximum sentence of 30 years for the convictions, as well as potential restitution and forfeiture. Sentencing is scheduled for September 25, 2017, in Lexington.