JACKSON – State Auditor Stacey Pickering said Kenneth Holley, the former fire chief of the Elliott Volunteer Fire Department in Grenada County, admitted that he stole more than $15,000 from the department during his time as fire chief. Holley,46, pleaded guilty to the felony crime of grand larceny following an investigation by Pickering’s office.
Holley was sentenced to five years suspended with two years supervised probation with the Mississippi Department of Corrections and he was also ordered by the Court to pay full restitution, which District Attorney Doug Evans said he has done.
Special agents with the state auditor’s office determined that Holley embezzled $15,468.35 from the Elliott Volunteer Fire Department from October 2008 to July 2009.
“Volunteer fire departments are critical to the safety of all Mississippians, and their access to adequate training and gear is essential to their ability to protect homes across our state,” said State Auditor Stacey Pickering. “Ken Holley admitted to embezzling [the money], and has been sentenced to two years of probation by the Court.”
The Grenada Star reported that the Grenada County Board of Supervisors voted to freeze the funds for the Elliott Volunteer Fire Department in December 2009 because of incomplete financial records.
That same month, Holley was asked to resign as fire chief, and instead chose to retire.
The state auditor’s office began their financial investigation in March and determined that the money had been stolen.
“I applaud the work of our special agents and District Attorney Doug Evans for their work on this case,” Pickering said. “I hope this serves as a reminder not only to public employees but to volunteers who work with public funds that we take the responsibility of protecting taxpayer dollars very seriously.”
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