The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

October 14, 2009

Four more charged in VFD scandal

By Tina Alvey

Four more people were arrested this week in connection with an alleged financial scandal involving the Ronceverte Volunteer Fire Department, State Police said.

Arraigned on felony charges were Matthew Scott Campbell, 27, Gary Lee Carter, 59, and Ricky Gean Reed, 40, all of Ronceverte, and Angela Brammer, 25, of Lewisburg. All are free on bond.

Trooper 1st Class W.A. Pendleton said the three men are former members of the VFD and Brammer is the wife of the VFD’s former president, Michael Kevin Brammer, who was indicted by a grand jury last week.

Campbell, a 12-year member of the VFD, was charged with receiving stolen property. According to the court file, a $1,500 check was issued to him from a VFD account on Jan. 24, 2008.

Carter, a 32-year veteran of the VFD, was also charged with receiving stolen property. According to the court file, a $1,000 check was issued to him from a VFD account on Oct. 2, 2007.

Reed was charged with conspiracy to commit embezzlement. According to the court file, he was issued a $1,550 check on Dec. 17, 2007, and an $800 check two days later, both drawn on VFD accounts. The complaint also alleges the VFD made an electronic payment in the amount of $464 to an account held by Reed with Triad Financial.

Angela Brammer was also charged with conspiracy to commit embezzlement. According to the court file, a $1,000 VFD check dated Jan. 24, 2007, was issued to Brammer, but the check appears to have been issued on or about Jan. 24, 2008. Also, four payments totaling $1,050.98 were allegedly made from VFD funds to Allegheny Power for accounts in Brammer’s name, and at least 20 payments totaling $1,816.67 were allegedly made to Legacy VISA for an account in Brammer’s name.

Last week, three former Ronceverte VFD officials were indicted by a grand jury on charges of embezzlement and conspiracy to commit embezzlement from the department. Those indicted were former chief Jody Anderson Campbell, 60, former assistant chief and treasurer William Darrell Miller, 37, and Michael Kevin Brammer, 29.

Those indictments, coupled with this week’s arrests, appear to mark the close of a year-long State Police investigation.

“I believe that will wrap up the investigation,” Pendleton said Wednesday. “Everybody has been arrested or indicted.”

— E-mail: talvey@register-herald.com

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