Former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel has been a prominent figure within the Indiana Republican Party, with close ties to top Hoosier politicians including Gov. Eric Holcomb and former U.S. Reps. Mike Sodrel and Trey Hollingsworth. Noel’s influence extended beyond his county and across the state, with connections to former Gov. Mike Pence and serving on the Indiana State Republican Party Committee. However, his fall from grace came last November when he faced a corruption and fraud investigation, leading to over two dozen felony charges, including theft, ghost employment, official misconduct, and tax evasion involving millions of dollars in questionable spending. Noel and his family have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The investigation revealed that Noel allegedly used public funds for personal gain, including purchasing luxury items such as cars, planes, vacations, clothing, and even cigars. He was also accused of selling vehicles from the sheriff’s office or his companies to himself for $1 or nothing at all, among other schemes. Noel is currently serving a 60-day sentence in the Scott County Jail after being held in contempt of court.
Despite the magnitude of the alleged corruption, some of Indiana’s top politicians have remained silent on the matter. Noel’s rise within the GOP ranks began in 2009 when he was elected as head of the Clark County Republican Party and later held prominent roles within the state GOP. He played a crucial role in nominating the party’s presidential nominee at the GOP national convention in 2016 and helped numerous candidates access Republican ballots. The investigation into Noel’s actions is ongoing, shedding light on a deeply rooted web of corruption in southern Indiana politics.
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