Ronald Jerome Woolfolk, Jr., a 27-year-old resident of Lexington, was sentenced on Mar. 31 to 34 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Woolfolk’s sentencing follows an investigation into fraudulent activities that targeted a charity supporting families who lost children. The case highlights concerns about the misuse of sensitive information accessed through positions of trust.
According to court documents, Woolfolk worked as a licensed mortician apprentice at a funeral home in Fayette County, where he had access to personal identifying information of clients and deceased individuals as well as the funeral home’s email account. Between August 15, 2022, and October 16, 2023, he used this access to submit about 23 requests for financial assistance from the charity using both real and fictitious identities. These requests included false details and fabricated documentation such as fake invoices for funeral expenses, cremation certificates, and letters on the funeral home’s letterhead. Payments were directed to a fake company created by Woolfolk.
The scheme resulted in $11,929.49 being fraudulently obtained from the charity. The families involved and the funeral home were unaware of Woolfolk’s actions during this period.
Under federal law, Woolfolk is required to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for release. After serving his prison term, he will be under supervision by the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
The sentence was announced jointly by Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Robert Holman, Special Agent in Charge with the U.S. Secret Service. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Mattingly Williams.
