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A former accounts payable clerk for Fentress County faces possible jail time for allegedly stealing from the county.
The Fentress County grand jury has indicted Kellye Crabtree on a charge of theft over $60,000. The county terminated her employment in December, 2018.
Investigators determined that Crabtree stole at least $239,680.99 from the county between December 2014 and December 2018. The State Comptroller’s Office said a vast majority of the theft involved Crabtree’s use of a Walmart credit card that belonged to the county.
Officials said she used the card to purchase food, cigarettes, electronics, and prepaid visa cards. None of the purchases were related to county business.
“Crabtree covered up the misappropriation by receiving all credit card statements, issuing payments, and manipulating the county’s accounting records and budget,” A release from the State Comptroller’s Office said.
Additionally, investigators determined that Crabtree also served as treasurer for a community baseball league, which received money from the county. Crabtree allegedly stole $2,065 from the league by writing unauthorized checks to herself.
In many instances, investigators found that Crabtree signed other individual’s names on checks without their knowledge.
The investigation began after finance department officials noticed questionable purchases that were being made on the county’s Walmart credit cards.
