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Thieving Fire Chief Decides to Plead Guilty

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Putting an End To a Nasty Tenure

THE FORMER ST. CLAIR FIRE PROTECTION District Fire Chief, Eric Hinson, 43, pleaded guilty this morning (Wednesday) to one felony count of fraud and five felony counts of tax evasion.  The former volunteer chief and treasurer of the department was indicted January 9 on fraud and multiple tax evasion charges involving his alleged misuse of about $593,236 of district funds between January 2006 and September 2011.  (See the Firegeezer video report from January 10 HERE.) 

The indictment said that Hinson used the money for a variety of things including vacations in Hawaii and Florida, tickets to Six Flags, payments for a pick-up truck, and furniture at Macy’s.   "He took it for family vacations, luxury goods, credit card charges," said U.S. Attorney Richard Callahan. "Basically each year between $100,000 and $130,000 was taken from the fire district."

The Ladue-Frontenac Patch adds:

In order to conceal his scheme Hinson accessed the District's QuickBooks to alter reported general ledger activity by backdating certain of his fraudulent transactions and by changing the payee in order to manipulate the District's accounting records so as to hide the existence of his fraudulent transactions. Through his fraudulent conduct, Hinson obtained approximately $593,236 from the St. Clair Fire Protection District.

He had pleaded not guilty at last month's indictment, but decided to change his plea and was scheduled for today's hearing where he did so. When he is sentenced, Hinson could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for the fraud charge. Each count of tax evasion carries a maximum penalty of five years and a fine of up to $100,000.

In addition to his volunteer duties, he was a full-time paid firefighter in the Ladue FD for 19 years and retired suddenly in September after learning of the IRS investigation of his finances.  For additional background on this case, see the Firegeezer video report on September 13 Two-Hatter Under Investigation HERE.

The Ladue-Frontenac Patch has more details HERE.

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Posted by on February 6, 2013 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, crime, Fire Rescue Topics, Law & Justice • Tagged: , ,

Promotional Opportunities

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"Moving Out So That Others Can Move Up …."

THE FORMER FIRE CHIEF OF ST. CLAIR, MISSOURI, is accused of possibly setting the record for purloined funds for personal expenses by a volunteer chief.

KMOV-TV reports: 

Eric Hinson is accused of taking $593,236 from January 2006 to September 2011. The indictment says Hinson used the money for a variety of things including vacations in Hawaii and Florida, tickets to Six Flags, payments for a pick-up truck, and furniture at Macy’s.

"He took it for family vacations, luxury goods, credit card charges," said U.S. Attorney Richard Callahan. "Basically each year between $100,000 and $130,000 was taken from the fire district."

KMOV-TV also filed this video report:

 

See also the earlier Firegeezer report Two-Hatter Under Investigation from September 13 HERE.

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THE FLAGLER BEACH, FLORIDA, FIRE CHIEF and three other firefighters have been exposed by an insider as having responded to emergency calls, and in some instances driving FD vehicles, after drinking alcoholic beverages in the firehouse.

The Daytona Beach News-Journal is reporting:

Four Flagler Beach firefighters, including Chief Martin Roberts, have been placed on paid administrative leave after they were accused of drinking alcohol before responding to calls or drinking at the fire station in December.

Roberts, Assistant Fire Chief Shane Wood, firefighter Jacob Bissonnette and fire/police Capt. Steven Wood, were placed on leave Friday, according to documents provided by the city.

"There have been serious allegations presented to myself and our human resources manager Libby Kania and as a result of those allegations, I thought I had no choice but to commence a third-party investigation to find out if there was merit to these allegations," City Manager Bruce Campbell said Wednesday.

WKMG-TV is reporting that Chief Roberts admitted he and Captain Steve Wood drank apple pie moonshine and then responded to a house fire.  Witnesses said Wood also drank beer then drove the tower truck, which seats five people and has a 95-foot aerial platform, to the fire. Read and view WKMG's report and video HERE.

WFTV Ch. 6 also filed this video report:

 

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Posted by on January 10, 2013 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, crime, Fire Rescue Topics, Videos • Tagged: , , , ,