Owner of Gebhardt Trailer Sales to Serve Nine Years in Federal Prison for Fraud
Ordered to Pay $4.5 Million in Restitution
| U.S. Attorney’s Office October 31, 2011 |
SPRINGFIELD, IL—Jacklyn Still, formerly Jacklyn Gebhardt, the owner of Gebhardt Trailer Sales, of Jacksonville, Ill., was sentenced today to serve nine years in federal prison and to pay restitution in the amount of $4,549,610 to banks and customers she defrauded. Still, 49, has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since Aug. 16, 2011.
Still, who had pleaded guilty to mail fraud and money laundering, was also determined to have obstructed justice while awaiting sentencing. During today’s court proceedings, U.S. District Judge Sue E. Myerscough ruled that since entering her pleas of guilty on Mar. 29, 2011, Still committed various acts, including additional criminal conduct.
In March, Still admitted that on multiple occasions, she knowingly ‘sold’ motor homes and trailers for which she either had no title or had obtained a title by fraud, failed to pay off liens on motor homes which were traded in to Gebhardt Trailer Sales, and fraudulently used motor homes for which she had no ownership as collateral to induce financial institutions to loan her money.
Judge Sue E. Myerscough found that in May 2011, while Still was on bond, she sold a 2005 Chevrolet Kodiak C4500 truck for $31,000, falsified the paperwork for the sale, and purchased a boat which she titled in the name of her husband. In doing so, Still not only violated the terms of her release, but also her plea agreement, by selling and transferring property without the knowledge or consent of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. She also violated several state laws regarding false statements on title applications and transfers. In another transaction, on or about June 14, 2011, while still on bond and subject to the conditions that she make no transfers, Gebhardt sold a ‘modified race car’ to an individual for $8,250.
Evidence seized from Gebhardt Trailer Sales in 2010 will remain with the investigators for another 30 days. This will allow a review of the records to ensure that personal financial information held by the defendant for past customers is properly secured or destroyed.
The charges were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation; and the Illinois Secretary of State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick D. Hansen.