A former West Virginia volunteer fire official who pleaded guilty to fraud after burning down his home and misusing the fire department’s credit card has been sentenced to 33 months in prison.
Donald A. Ennis, 44, of St. Albans, also must pay $513,000 in restitution to his insurance company and a Kanawha County volunteer fire department, a federal judge decided this week. Upon release from prison, Ennis will face three years of supervised release.
In 2021, Ennis fraudulently obtained an insurance payout on his home for $161,100 for the dwelling and $120,825 for the contents, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia said last year.
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 the volunteer fire department, 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.
Before his sentencing, his federal public defender attorney submitted a memorandum to the court, arguing for leniency.
“Mr. Ennis’ crimes are terrible. But the rest of his life has been dedicated to helping others,” attorney Rachel Zimarowski wrote. “With his own two hands, he has staunched bleeding, set bones, and literally brought members of this community back to life. The good he has done, his willingness to run into danger, his complete and utter selflessness as a paramedic, father, son, uncle, and friend—it’s no wonder so many of his loved ones have written letters expressing how difficult it is to reconcile that man with the one who committed these crimes. He feels the same way.”
Ennis, who has severe diabetes, has received mental health treatment in recent years and has expressed regret for his crimes, the lawyer wrote.
Topics Fraud
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