Jla Kapri Cooper

WARSAW — A Chicago woman received a suspended sentence and will have to pay more than $7,000 in restitution after attempting to fraudulently purchase ATVs from Kerlin Motorsports in Warsaw.

Jla Kapri Cooper, 23, Chicago, Ill., was charged with attempted theft, a level 6 felony. Corrupt business influence and forgery charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Cooper was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court 2 on Tuesday, March 31.

On June 21, 2017, a manager with Kerlin Motorsports spoke with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office about a suspicious purchase. The manager had received an online purchase and credit application under a man’s name. When that credit application was declined, another application was submitted under Cooper’s name.

On June 8, 2017, two men went to Kerlin Motorsports with paperwork. A contract had not been signed by Cooper and the men were instructed to return with the paperwork properly signed. One of the men returned to the business the next day with the contract signed by Cooper. The man was allowed to then take an ATV valued at $16,000.

The lending company advised that the loan application information submitted was false and refused the application. The driver’s license, address and social security number used did not belong to Cooper or any of the men. Kerlin Motorsports was then unable to contact any of the individuals involved.

On June 30, 2017, officers conducted surveillance at Kerlin Motorsports. Three men and Cooper began completing purchase paperwork at the business. An officer then spoke with one of the men, who admitted that an individual gave him information on how to purchase an ATV from Kerlin Motorsports. He also admitted to using fake information because of poor credit ratings.

The officer then obtained the other two men and Cooper’s credit applications. All three had used false identifying information in order to purchase an ATV.

Judge Torrey Bauer sentenced Cooper to 2 1/2 years in the Indiana Department of Correction. The sentence was suspended on formal probation. Cooper must also pay $7,730.73 in restitution to Kerlin Motors.