Tammy Kellerman, 52, charged in Pinckneyville fire district theft and fraud
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has charged a Pinckneyville woman with theft and income tax fraud for allegedly stealing more than $100,000 from the Pinckneyville Rural Fire Protection District (PRFPD) between. The investigation has taken almost four years to complete.
Tammy Kellerman, a 52-year-old legal secretary, was charged in Perry County Circuit Court on one count of theft of government funds over $100,000, a class X felony punishable by a minimum of six years in prison; four counts of filing a fraudulent Illinois income tax return and computer fraud, both class 4 felonies punishable by up to three years in prison; and two counts of wire fraud and official misconduct, both class 3 felonies punishable by two to five years in prison.
According to the complaint the alleged thefts occurred between January 5, 2009 and August 6, 2013.
The complaint alleges that Kellerman was responsible for preparing monthly treasurer's reports for the fire district board meetings and knowingly accessed a computer to prepare false monthly treasurer's reports to conceal her personal use of money belonging to the district. The misconduct charge says she "performed acts in excess of her lawful authority in that she issued checks drawn on the accounts of Pinckneyville Rural Fire Protection District to pay various personal expenses including, but not limited to personal credit card balances. The Illinois income tax fraud charge says she understated her 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014 income because of the alleged thefts.. In filing those returns electronically she committed wire fraud, according to the complaint.
"Residents of Illinois' communities depend on the services provided by local fire departments. At a time when public funding for those services is scarce, the defendant's actions are even more reprehensible," said Madigan.
"Whenever allegations of tax fraud come to light, it is important that we examine their validity and act accordingly," said Connie Beard, director of the Illinois Department of Revenue. "I commend the job performed by the Department of Revenue's Criminal Investigations Unit, as well as the work currently being done by the Attorney General's office regarding this matter."
Kellerman's bond was set at $100,000 with the requirement that she post 10 percent up front. Her next court appearance is Sept. 29.
Assistant Attorneys General Eugene Bain and Gregory Stucka are handling the case for Madigan's Special Prosecutions Bureau. The investigation was conducted in cooperation with the Illinois State Police and the Illinois Department of Revenue, Criminal Investigations Division, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Fire Chief Jim Gielow Tuesday said cases like this happen when public funds are entrusted to an individual or small group. He called the case unfortunate and said the missing monies could have otherwise been used for district equipment purchases and expenses. Gielow said. The fire district is supported by taxes and Chief Gielow says the district is slowly trying to rebuild its resources.