United States Attorney Susan T. Lehr announced the sentencing of Ashtin D. Schutjer, a 36-year-old resident of Council Bluffs, Iowa, for access device fraud. On December 20, 2024, in Omaha's federal court, Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Schutjer to 14 months in prison. Following her imprisonment, she will undergo a three-year supervised release period and must pay $151,693.74 in restitution to Victim 1.
Schutjer began working as a caregiver for an elderly couple in 2014. She was responsible for errands and had access to their First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO) debit card and account information. In early 2018, a Chase/Amazon credit card was opened under a derivative form of Victim 2’s name without listing Victim 1 as an authorized user.
After Victim 2 passed away on August 3, 2018, the use of the Chase/Amazon card increased significantly. Purchases made with this card included airline tickets for Schutjer and her family, electronics like a Microsoft Xbox and Apple products, as well as various Amazon purchases. Payments were drawn from Victim 1’s FNBO checking account over three years from 2018 through 2021.
None of these charges were incurred by Victim 1; instead, they were used for personal expenses by Schutjer who listed Victim 2’s name for billing purposes at her own address. The items purchased ranged from children’s clothes and toys to high-value electronics shipped to multiple addresses including Schutjer's home.
As a result of these fraudulent activities, Victim 1's FNBO account was completely depleted. During sentencing proceedings, Chief Judge Rossiter remarked to Schutjer: “You took away everything this woman (Victim 1) had.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to this case.