Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone
The treasurer of a West Virginia volunteer fire department has been charged with embezzling $88,000 from the organization between 2009 and 2011.
Mary Elizabeth Taylor, who was treasurer of the Barboursville Volunteer Fire Department, is accused of stealing $88,065.42 over a period of two years from July 1, 2009, and May 10, 2011. She allegedly committed the theft by misusing credit cards and issuing fraudulent checks from the department’s bank account.
An internal investigation was launched after discrepancies in the department’s finances were discovered during an internal account reconciliation. That in turn led to an audit of the department’s finances. Taylor was terminated in June 2011.
The case was initially given to the police for investigation, but they referred the case to the Cabell County Prosecutor’s Office because they were better equipped to investigate financial crime cases.
Taylor, 46, stands charged with a single count of embezzlement. She was indicted last Wednesday by Cabell County grand jury. She had been with the department for six years.
The Barboursville Volunteer Fire Department funds its operations primarily through fund raisers and donations. Fire Chief Phil Kincaid, a forty year veteran, said that the department has instituted new financial controls. They are working with their insurer to recoup some of the losses.
