ASHEVILLE, N.C. — A former Fletcher Fire & Rescue employee pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of embezzlement.
Brenda Livingston pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $350,000 from the department over a span of seven years.
Livingston told officials she used the money to pay bills, buy presents and give money to her children, reported the Daily Progress.
An indictment was filed July 15; Livingston accepted a guilty plea ten days later.
The investigation into Livingston’s embezzlement began in 2015, when officials found she had been misappropriating department funds since 2008.
While working for the department, Livingston’s position required her to oversee financial transactions and records, including depositing funds, paying invoices and keeping track of the accounting system, reported the Citizen Times.
Fire Chief Greg Garland found discrepancies within the department’s accounts after requesting a budget report from Livingston in late 2015. Garland noticed unusual withdrawals from the account and discovered that cash advances had been written in Livingston’s name.
Further investigations by officials revealed that Livingston embezzled nearly $350,000 during her time with the department.
A sentencing date has not yet been decided.