Army Recruiter Charged in Brazen ID Theft Seeking $266k in Bank Loans

A former Army recruiter in New Jersey whose office was trusted with the personal information of incoming service members has been charged with bank fraud and identity theft after getting caught trying to retrieve roughly $266,000 in loans and lines of credit.

Court documents obtained by Military.com show that Jane Crosby, 35, of Jersey City, N.J., sought multiple credit union loans and credit card accounts. She was charged by the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey with trying to use the identities of seven recruits to open credit union accounts and take out nearly $266,000 in loans and lines of credit in their names.

Authorities said she also deposited fraudulent checks, withdrew cash, and used a credit card opened in one victim’s name to buy airline tickets. The U.S. Attorney’s office declined to release her booking photo to Military.com.

Crosby pleaded guilty in Newark Federal Court to one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Her plea agreement requires her to pay approximately $18,150 in restitution to the credit union, which was the actual amount investigators said she was able to steal.

The plea agreement calculates the credit union’s loss at approximately $18,150, far less than the $266,000 in loans and lines of credit Crosby tried to obtain.

Crosby’s bank fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The aggravated identity theft count carries an additional consecutive mandatory minimum term of two years in prison and a maximum fine of up to $250,000.

Crosby’s Recruiting History, Illegal Efforts

Crosby worked as a sergeant first class and recruiter at an Army recruiting station in East Orange, N.J.

Investigators said that between September and December 2023, she submitted applications for seven “Pre-Active Duty Membership” accounts, which are intended to help incoming service members receive direct deposits of their military pay while on active duty.

The applications were submitted to a bank branch listed as “Credit Union 1” in the court documents, which was described as “a credit union with accounts insured by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund, with branches across the United States and worldwide, including in New Jersey.”

Court documents show Crosby’s fraudulent applications contained victims’ names and Social Security numbers, along with copies of documents that included passports, driver’s licenses and Social Security cards.

Crosby obtained the personal information through her position and submitted the applications without the victims’ knowledge or permission, according to New Jersey prosecutors.

Investigators said that only one of the seven victims ultimately joined the Army, while the others applied and tried to enlist or simply visited Crosby’s recruiting station.

Investigators said calls about the accounts were traced to Crosby’s personal telephone number, the East Orange recruiting office, and another number registered through the recruiting station’s internet address.

Court documents also show that during some calls, a woman allegedly disguised her voice and posed as the person named on the account while trying to obtain account information.

Crosby used several of the unauthorized accounts to deposit checks that appeared to have been issued by the U.S. Treasury, according to her case.

The credit union rejected many of the checks after identifying them as suspicious. Most of the loan and credit card applications were also denied, canceled or blocked.