JACKSON- State Auditor Stacey Pickering announced today that Ken Holley, former fire chief of the Elliott Volunteer Fire Department in Grenada County, has pled guilty to the felony crime of grand larceny following an investigation by the State Auditor’s Office.

Special agents with the State Auditor’s Office determined that Holley embezzled $15,468.35 from the Elliott Volunteer Fire Department during the time he served as chief.

“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 over $15,000 from October 2008 to July 2009 from the Elliott Volunteer Fire Department and has been sentenced to two years of probation by the Court. I applaud the work of our special agents and District Attorney Doug Evans for their work on this case.

“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.”

Holley, 46, was sentenced to two years of supervised probation with the Mississippi Department of Corrections and was ordered by the Court to pay full restitution.

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