A former Oklahoma volunteer fire chief is accused of obtaining a debit card connected to his department’s bank account, linking it to his personal Cash App and using fire department money for himself.
Blake Kendall, 28, formerly served as volunteer fire chief in Mannsville.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation says its probe uncovered more than $1,200 in transactions through his personal Cash App and a separate $6,500 cash withdrawal from Citizens Bank.
Agents also identified other reported cash withdrawals and debit card purchases totaling more than $7,800, according to KXII. Kendall was arrested Aug. 24 in Ardmore and now faces charges of embezzlement and violations of the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act.
Investigators Say He Linked the Department Card to His Cash App
The investigation began after the Carter County District Attorney’s Office asked the OSBI to examine allegations of embezzlement, fraud and computer crime involving the City of Mannsville.
Agents with the agency’s Fraud and Cybercrime Unit identified Kendall as a suspect and reviewed financial activity involving the volunteer fire department. According to the OSBI, Kendall obtained a debit card tied to the department’s bank account and added it to his personal Cash App. T
Investigators separately identified a $6,500 cash withdrawal from Citizens Bank. The OSBI also reported several other cash withdrawals and debit card purchases totaling more than $7,800.
He Faces Embezzlement and Computer Crime Charges
During the investigation, authorities determined that Kendall is a Chickasaw citizen. The OSBI provided its investigative report to the Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Department and the Chickasaw Nation Office of Tribal Justice Administration. Chickasaw Lighthorse Police arrested Kendall in Ardmore on Aug. 24. He was then booked into the Marshall County Jail.
Kendall was arrested on allegations of embezzlement and violations of the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act. Kendall has not been convicted. The charges remain accusations and will proceed through the applicable court process.
Public Debit Cards Need Independent Oversight
Organizations entrusted with public money can reduce the opportunity for misuse by separating control of payment cards from responsibility for reviewing the transactions.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office’s internal-control standards emphasize preventive controls that safeguard public resources. Those controls include separating incompatible responsibilities so one person does not control authorization, spending and review.
Unexplained cash withdrawals, transfers to personal payment apps and transactions without supporting documentation should receive prompt review. Access should also be removed when an official or employee no longer needs a card, and organizations can use transaction alerts and limits to flag unusual activity before losses accumulate.
When suspected misuse is discovered, financial statements, card records, Cash App or other payment-service records, receipts and authorization documents should be preserved for auditors and investigators.