Woman pleads guilty to financial exploitation

A Byron woman has pleaded guilty to financial exploitation after authorities say she spent the money of a vulnerable adult she'd worked for.

Jill Janette Sheely, 36, entered the plea Thursday in Olmsted County District Court, where she'd been charged with the felony in February. Sentencing has been set for Nov. 2.

The charge stems from an investigation that began in July 2014, when Olmsted County Adult Protection Services received information about the finances of a woman in a nursing home.

The victim's electronic benefits transfer card showed that while $324 in funds had accumulated, $392 in funds had been withdrawn from convenience stores in Rochester and Stewartville. An EBT card is a system that allows public assistance departments to issue benefits electronically; the user then swipes the card to make purchases at participating retailers to purchase food items.

The victim reportedly suspected Sheely, who was her former personal care assistant.

In addition, the woman's debit card was also used several times at a number of businesses and banks in Rochester and Stewartville, and in online transactions, the complaint says. Sheely was clearly the person seen on surveillance video at the bank locations where the debit card was used, the report says.

The cards were used from April through July 2014, while the victim was in a nursing home in Chatfield, the complaint says. She had neither her car nor the ability to shop at the purchase sites; a total of $1,251.73 was missing.

Sheely allegedly admitted to an investigator that she'd used the debit card for some purchases, and owed the entire amount. She also admitted using the EBT card, the complaint says.

Sheely has repaid $100, according to court documents.

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Woman pleads guilty to financial exploitation