Former Kentucky fire chief sentenced for public funds theft

PIKE COUNTY, KY (WOWK) – A former volunteer fire chief in Pike County who stole public funds through COVID-19 fraud has been sentenced, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell sentenced 36-year-old Christopher Chapman to 12 months in prison. Federal law requires that Chapman must serve at least 85% of his sentence. Upon his release, he will be under federal supervision for three years.

Chapman is also required to pay $76,854.50 in restitution, according to Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

McCaffrey says that in Spring 2022, the local government in Pike County authorized $50,000 in American Rescue Plan dollars to be distributed through grants allocated for purchasing fire and rescue turnout gear, equipment and building maintenance.

According to McCaffery’s office, Chapman admitted in his plea agreement that in April 2022, he created a company called Rural Public Safety Equipment, LLC, (RPSE) and registered it with the West Virginia Secretary of State. Chapman was the sole organizer and member of the company.

Court records say Chapman was the chief of the Blackberry Volunteer Fire Department at the time. He told the department’s members he could purchase fire safety equipment from RPSE but did not disclose that he was the company’s owner. The department ordered equipment from the company and pre-paid $76,854.50, however, Chapman did not fulfill any orders.

According to McCaffery’s office, Chapman spent the money for his personal use and withdrew $61,500 in cash from RPSE’s bank account.