Pinckneyville woman charged with stealing $100K from Fire Protection District

A Perry County woman has been charged with stealing more than $100,000 from the Pinckneyville Rural Fire Protection District (PRFPD).

Tammy Kellerman, 52, of Pinckneyville, is charged with one count of theft of government funds over $100,000, four counts of filing a fraudulent Illinois income tax return and computer fraud, and two counts of wire fraud and official misconduct.

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan says Kellerman, a former employee of the PRFPD, embezzled more than $100,000 from the department for her own personal use and then failed to disclose the money on her state income tax returns.

"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."

Illinois State Police, the Illinois Department of Revenue, and the FBI assisted in the investigation.

Kellerman will appear in Perry County court on Sept. 29.