Former Chief of Metro North Fire Protection District Pleads Guilty to Misuse of District Funds

St. Louis, MO: David P. Jetton pleaded guilty to one count of fraudulent use of a district credit card, United States Attorney Catherine L. Hanaway announced today.

David P. Jetton was employed as a fire chief with the Metro North Fire Protection District (formerly Moline Fire Department), until his resignation June 12, 2006. Between January 2000 and December 2006, Jetton made fraudulent use of a District credit card, and without District authorization, fraudulently opened additional credit accounts in the District's name. Jetton also made a series of misrepresentations to District employees to get additional District payroll checks for work and services that he never performed. Additionally, Jetton added additional cell phones for his family to the District account in addition to his own, which was provided by the District. The District paid for Jetton's entire family's cell phone use. Finally, Jetton used District checks to pay for repairs to his personally owned automobiles. In total, Jetton admitted in his plea that he defrauded the District of more than $30,000, but less than $70,000.

“The FBI takes all allegations of corruption seriously and will continue to investigate these matters.

This is another example of an employee violating the Public’s trust,” said John Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, FBI St. Louis.

Jetton, 53, of Ferguson, pleaded guilty to one felony count of fraudulent use of a credit access device. He appeared before United States District Judge Carol Jackson.

Jetton now faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000, when he is sentenced on May 19, 2009.

Hanaway commended the work on the case by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Schelp, who is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney's Office.

 

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