Bookkeeper indicted for stealing over $10k from Marshall Co. fire dept.

stacey-cornwell
stacey-cornwell

A former bookkeeper for a Marshall County fire department has been indicted for stealing over $10,000 from the department.

On December 1, 2022, Kentucky State Police began an investigation of the Fairdealing-Olive Volunteer Fire Department after board members reported “suspicions of theft within the department” to law enforcement.

The investigation, state police said, revealed that 48-year-old Stacey C. Cornwell, of Benton, was hired as a bookkeeper by the fire department in August 2018. In her capacity as bookkeeper, Cornwell had access to the department’s checking and savings accounts, and possessed a department-issued credit card.

“Soon after being hired, Cornwell began using funds from the checking and savings accounts for personal use. It was also discovered that Cornwell utilized the department credit card to make purchases not related to the day-to-day operations of the department,” according to Kentucky State Police.

The total amount of stolen funds is undetermined, but officials believe the thefts occurred throughout the majority of Cornwell’s four years of employment with the department.

Cornwell was indicted by a Marshall County Grand Jury for theft by unlawful taking (more than $10,000, less than $1 million) and fraudulent use of a credit card (less than $10,000).

(Photo: Stacey C. Cornwell, courtesy of LinkedIn)

By Ken Howlett, News Director

Contact Ken at ken@k105.com