SC Chief Sentenced to 33 Months For Embezzlement

Posted by: Curt Varone November 21, 2017 1 Comment

A South Carolina fire chief who was convicted of embezzling funds from his department has been sentenced to 33 months in federal prison.

US Attorney Beth Drake announced today that US District Court Judge Richard Gergel had handed down the sentence to former St. Paul’s Fire Chief Doc Matthews. Last July, a jury convicted Matthews, 48, of embezzling funds from the St. Paul’s Fire District. A co-defendant, Mary Jo Thomas-Delaney, 68, was also convicted. She was sentenced to 14 months in prison. Both will be required to serve 3 years of supervised probation upon their release.

Matthews and Thomas-Delaney faced up to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Prosecutors claim they embezzled approximately $215,000 in federal funds from a FEMA grant for a new fire station.

 Live5News.com | Charleston, SC | News, Weather, Sports

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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