AL Woman Who Stole $640K from VFDs Sentenced

An Alabama woman was sentenced to prison for embezzling $640,000 from an association that represented more than a dozen volunteer fire departments in the state.

A federal judge game Andrea Payne, 63, of Opelika, a 42-month term after she pleaded guilty in April for wire fraud, The Associated Press reports. From 2012 until 2018, Payne had been treasurer for the Talladega County Association of Volunteer Fire Departments, and she was in charge of dispersing tax dollars to the 15 departments that fall under the organization's umbrella.

But according to prosecutors, Payne funneled money from the group to herself, using it on credit car bills, cruises and cash advances, the AP added.