Bill Estep
Lexington Herald-Leader
(TNS)
The former chief of an Eastern Kentucky volunteer fire department has admitted to stealing more than $76,000 that was supposed to be used for equipment for firefighters and other needs.
Christopher Chapman, 35, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a charge of theft of public funds.
Chapman was chief of the Blackberry Volunteer Fire Department in rural Pike County when he took the money.
The county fiscal court approved grants of $50,000 in the spring of 2022 to each fire department in the county to be used for turnout gear for firefighters and for other equipment and maintenance of their fire stations.
Chapman registered a company in West Virginia and told members of the board at the Blackberry department he could get safety equipment at cost from a company.
He didn’t tell board members he owned the company, according to his plea agreement.
The department ultimately paid for $76,854 worth of equipment from the company Chapman had set up, but he took the money and didn’t fill any of the equipment orders from the Blackberry department, according to his plea agreement.
Chapman was charged in federal court because the money the county gave fire departments came through the American Rescue Plan Act, which Congress approved to help local governments maintain services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chapman is liable for repaying the $76,854 and faces up to 10 years in prison.
U.S. District Judge Karen K. Caldwell scheduled sentencing for Nov. 25.
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