A former administrator with the Breathitt County Conservation District is accused of defrauding the district of more than $200,000 for her personal use.
A federal grand jury in Lexington on Thursday indicted Debra L. Marshall, 48, of Clayhole, with four counts of mail fraud.
The Indictment claims that as Breathitt County Conservation District Administrative Secretary, Marshall had control over the district's money.
From 2005 until March, 2010, Marshall is accused of taking money from the district in several different ways, including using the district's credit card to make personal purchases.
The indictment states that Marshall covered up the loss by falsifying accounting records.
According to the indictment, when the district funds dwindled because of Marshall's scheme, she cashed the district's certificates of deposit and put that money into the district's operating account.
Marshall fraudulently obtained approximately $211,000 from the district for her personal benefit over the course of the scheme, according to the indictment.
All 120 counties in Kentucky have conservation districts. They are created by state law to provide help to county farmers and other county residents with farming needs among other things.
Each district receives state, federal and local funds.
Marshall's next court appearance hasn't been scheduled.
If convicted, she faces up to 20-years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
