ST. LOUIS -- Darren Small, the former mayor and fire chief of Kinloch, was sentenced in federal court Wednesday to eight months behind bars for stealing money from the city’s fire protection district.
Small’s wife, Jayna Small, who was former president of the fire district board of directors, was sentenced last week to probation.
The couple must repay a total of $75,000 to the district.
From December 2013 to March 2017, the Smalls used a district debit card to buy clothing, food, liquor and cigarettes, and pay power and gas bills. Jayna Small also wrote checks to herself, including one for $7,200 that went toward the funeral expenses of her murdered son.
Darren Small, now 51, pleaded guilty in August to access device fraud and conspiracy to commit access device fraud.
His lawyer, Dan Juengel, asked for probation or house arrest, citing a supportive letter from Small’s former district colleagues, and Small’s decades of service in the district and to the community. Juengel also said that if Small was not in prison, he could more quickly pay back the city.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Reggie Harris asked for the 12 to 18 months recommended by federal guidelines, saying Small abused his position and betrayed the trust of the struggling city. He also referenced former district chief Darran Kelly, who was sentenced in 2013 to 33 months in prison for stealing from the district.
“And, now here we are again,” Harris said.
Jayna Small, 40, pleaded guilty in July to one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and one count of interstate transportation of money obtained by fraud. Her lawyer, Brocca Morrison, told U.S. District Judge Catherine Perry last week that probation would allow Small to care for her four children and continue working.
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