Former fire fighter will go to prison

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – A former New Madrid, Mo., firefighter will go to prison after stealing money from a fundraiser meant to benefit the community’s late fire chief.

Jennifer S. Newton, 47, was sentenced March 4 to six months in prison on each of two counts of wire fraud by United States District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. The sentences are to be served concurrently

In 2019, the New Madrid Fire Chief James Harris was diagnosed with lymphoma and began undergoing chemotherapy treatments. Newton, who was a member of the department, organized an online fundraiser via Facebook titled “New Madrid Fire Chief Fundraiser.” Over $7,000 in donations for the benefit of James Harris were accepted during August 2019.

Newton, as the fundraising organizer, was responsible for designating a bank account into which the funds were to be deposited. Newton used a personal bank account under her control with the Bank of New Madrid to receive as deposits the funds donated for the benefit of Harris.

Newton unlawfully obtained over $5,000 from Facebook, which she directed to her personal accounts, or accounts controlled by her, including a PayPal account owned by her, and she received funds to which she was not entitled, between Aug. 2 and Aug. 29, 2019. Those funds were sent in interstate commerce by wire transfer to an account with the Bank of New Madrid used by Newton in New Madrid from an account associated with Facebook Fundraising with Wells Fargo Bank NA located in Minneapolis, Minn.

As charged in count 1 of the indictment, one of the wire transfers occurred on or about Aug. 2, 2019, in the amount of $2,253.45; and as charged in count 2 of the indictment, another wire transfer occurred on or about Aug. 5, 2019, in the amount of $1,429.82.

Newton pleaded guilty in September 2020 to the two counts of wire fraud. Prior to her guilty plea, she paid restitution for the amounts she unlawfully took.

This case was investigated by the New Madrid Police Department and the New Madrid County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorney Paul Hahn handled the prosecution for the government.