Jessica Lemly, 27 and president of the department's business operations, and Jason Lemly, 36 and treasurer, were indicted today (Thursday) with theft and forgery by a Shelby County grand jury.
Officials with the fire department in Salem Twp. contacted the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office on June 10 about fraudulent activity they found on the departments bank accounts.
During the course of the investigation, it was found that Jason and Jessica Lemly had embezzled funds for personal gain.
Further investigation by the sheriff's office and with the assistance of the fire department, sheriff's investigators determined the Lemly's embezzled a total of $185,408.69 from the department. It was also determined that Jason Lemly had forged the signature of a fire department member on multiple checks with proceeds of those checks going to the Lemly’s.
The time frame of the thefts and forgeries were from April 2016 through June 2019.
According to the sheriff's office, the charges break down this way:
Jason Lemly: one count of felony theft, and 26 counts of forgery.
Jessica Lemly: one count of felony theft.
The Lemly's, 27 and 36, have been summonsed to county common pleas court on Aug. 15.
We will update this developing report as more details become available.
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