Former bookkeeper for volunteer fire department charged with theft

MARSHALL COUNTY, Ky. (KBSI) – A former bookkeeper for the Fairdealing-Olive Volunteer Fire Department faces theft and fraudulent use of a credit card charges.

Stacey C. Cornwell, 48, Benton, Ky. was arrested and charged with one count of theft by unlawful taking $10,000 to $1 million one count of fraudulent use of a credit card less than $10,000.

Kentucky State Police, Post 1 received a call from the board members of the Fairdealing-Olive Volunteer Fire Department in Marshall County on December 1, 2022 regarding suspicions of theft within the department.

Cornwell was hired by the fire department in August 2018 to serve as bookkeeper, responsible for managing the department’s finances. 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 she was hired, Cornwell began using funds from the checking and savings accounts for personal use, according to KSP.

Cornwell used the department credit card to make purchases not related to the day-to-day operations of the department, according to KSP.

The total amount of misappropriated funds attributed to Cornwell is still undetermined. It is believed the misappropriation occurred throughout the majority of her four years of employment with the department, according to KSP. Cornwell was removed from her position as bookkeeper in November 2022.

The investigation is ongoing.