A former West Virginia volunteer fire official is awaiting sentencing after he admitted to setting fire to his home, filing an insurance claim, and using the fire department’s credit card for personal gain.
Donald A. Ennis, 43, of St. Albans, pleaded guilty this week in federal court. In 2021, he fraudulently obtained an insurance payout on his home of $161,100 for the dwelling and $120,825 for the contents, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia said in statement.
A fire completely engulfed the property on Feb. 15, 2021 and fire crews were unable to contain it, according to the felony information document filed in the case. The Bloomington, Illinois-based property insurance company was not named. The annual premium was less than $980.
As finance and operations manager for a volunteer fire department in Kanawha County, Ennis also ran up $153,700 in charges on the department’s credit card, through ATM withdrawals and purchases in 2020, 2021 and 2022, prosecutors said. Among other items, he purchased a winch kit, brake lines and other parts for his Jeep, along with an air compressor, the court document shows.
The fire department was funded in part by the Kanawha County Commission.
Ennis is set for sentencing on Nov. 18. He could face up to 40 years in prison on each count, a fine of more than $500,000, and likely will be asked to pay restitution of more than $500,000 and forfeit property and other assets.
The U.S. Attorney credited the West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner, the state Auditor’s Office and the FBI for investigating the case.
Topics Trends Fraud West Virginia
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