RUSHVILLE, Ind. -- An Indiana Department of Homeland Security employee and his wife turned themselves into police on Friday amid allegations of theft and ghost employment.
Robert Puckett, who works as the District 6 field services coordinator for IDHS, and his wife Rebecca were charged Thursday with multiple felony counts of theft, ghost employment and official misconduct.
According to a statement from the Rush County Sheriff’s Department, detectives began investigating the possibility of funds stolen from the Anderson Township Volunteer Fire Department in August.
The sheriff’s department said the investigation determined Rebecca Puckett, the treasurer of the fire department, was allegedly taking funds illegally.
Investigators said they also found evidence that her husband, Robert Puckett, was involved in the misuse of funds from the fire department account.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the Pucketts allegedly turned in fraudulent time sheets for their jobs as EMTs with the department. The Pucketts also allegedly allowed their EMT certifications to lapse in 2014, but continued to work and receive paychecks as EMTs anyway.
Investigators also reportedly found evidence that the Pucketts had made $3,100-worth of person insurance payments using fire department funds. They also found other allegedly fraudulent checks written to the Pucketts from the fire department’s account ranging from $400 to $1,000 each.
Officers from the Indiana State Police Cyber Crimes Division assisted in the investigation.
The sheriff’s department said the Pucketts were taken into custody on Friday without incident.
The Indiana Department of Homeland Security said Robert Puckett had been suspended without pay on Wednesday. The agency said it would cooperate fully with the investigation.
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