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Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet
Former seasonal state employee indicted in Bell County on credit card fraud, theft charges
PINEVILLE, Ky. (May 18, 2006) - A Bell County grand jury has indicted a former Kentucky Division of Forestry (KDF) seasonal employee on charges of using state credit cards to buy motor fuel for his personal use.
Tommy L. Hubbard, of Barbourville, was terminated Jan. 31, 2006. He was arrested April 5 following an investigation by the Office of Inspector General of the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet (EPPC), parent agency of KDF. Leah MacSwords, director of KDF, requested the investigation. Hubbard was an interim employee who worked during fire seasons.
The indictment charges Hubbard with two counts of fraud for allegedly using two cards issued by FleetOne, the fuel provider for Kentucky state government, to make fuel purchases totaling $2,323.64 in December and January. The indictment also charges Hubbard with one count of theft because one card allegedly was stolen from a KDF truck.
The fraud charges are Class D felonies. The theft charge is a Class A misdemeanor. The indictment was returned Wednesday, May 17.
EPPC Secretary LaJuana S. Wilcher said the agency acted quickly when it was suspected the credit cards had been misused. "Using a state credit card for personal gain is stealing from taxpayers, and it will not be tolerated," she said.
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